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OLD NORTH MEETING-HOUSE, 1751-1870. 



HISTORY 



OF 



The Four Meeting-Houses 



OF 



THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY 

In Penn\-cook, subsequently Rumford, 
NOW CONCORD, N. H. 

1726-1888. 



PRECEDED BY AN INTRODUCTION RELATIVE TO THE FOUR PERIODS 

AND FOUR TYPES OF MEETING-HOUSE ARCHITECTURE IN 

NEW HAMPSHIRE, FROM ITS SETTLEMENT 

IN 1623 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



BY 

/ 

JOSEPH B. WALKER. 



CONCORD, N. H. : 

PRINTED BY IRA C. EVANS. 

1888. 



^ 






9 O'OO 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Our First Meeting-House, .... 
Our Second Meeting-House, .... 
Pulpit of Our Second Meeting-House, 

Our Third Meeting-House 

Gallery Plan of Our Second Meeting-House, 
Floor Plan of Our Second Meeting-House, 
Floor Plan of Our Third Meeting-House, 
Our Fourth Meeting-House, .... 
Floor Plan of Our Fourth Meeting-House, 



PAGE. 

vii 



Facing title-page. 

X 

xi 
10 
14 
19 

Facing Page 21 

27 



INTRODUCTION. 



The term Meeting-Hoiise has, until recently, been the name given 
to most of the houses for public worship in New Hampshire. It was 
brought to New England by our English ancestors, and was in com- 
mon use as early certainly as 1635.* In the fatherland it was 
applied to buildings occupied by dissenters from the established 
religion, the houses in which this was taught being denominated 
churcJies — a word w^hich is now being more and more applied to all 
houses of worship in our cities and larger towns, an instance of the 
changes constantly occurring in our language.! The late President 
Lord, of Dartmouth College, very dryly remarked, upon returning 
from a visit to his old town of York, Maine, " When I was a boy, 
the people down there use to ' go to meeting.' No one goes to 
meeting now, they all go to churchJ^X 



THE FOUR PERIODS OF MEETING-HOUSE ARCHITECTURE. 

The meeting-house arehitecture of New Hampshire embraces four 
different periods, and is of four distinct types, whose leading charac- 
teristics are clearly defined and unmistakable. Of these, the four 
meeting-houses of the First Congregational Society in Concord have 
afforded good examples. 

* " Sept. 2, 1635. It is agreed that hereafter uo dweUing-hoiise shall be builte 
above half a myle from the meeting-house." — Mass. Records, Vol. 1, p. 157. 

t '^Meeting House. If Mr. Chaiining will consult Lancashire ; its Puritanism 
and its Non-Conformity, by the late Dr. Hosley, he will find abundant illustrations 
of the term ' meeting-house,' applied to Dissenters' chapels. By the Toleration 
Act of 1689, ' meeting-houses ' were required to be registered and certified, s. q." — 
21 dis. Inter., 1690. 

" These are to certify whom it may concern that the house of Peter Gaskell, of 
Burton Wood (Lane), was certified to this Court for a Meeting Place for a con- 
gregation of Protestants, ' dissenting from the Church of England.' 

" In fact, down to late in the eighteenth century, the term was commonly applied 
to all Non-Conformist chapels. 

********** 

" Buildings set apart by Dissenters as places of worship are very generally called 
meeting-houses by Churchmen throughout England." — Notes and Queries, Sixth 
Series, Vol. 11, pp. 296-7. 

X " On Sundays, according to the habit of the time, all ordinary books and 
occupations were laid aside. There was church-going twice a day — 'going to 
meeting,' it was always called — never to be omitted by any of the family, save for 
the reason of sickness." — Life of H. W. Longfellow, Vol. 1, p. 12. 



IV 



THE FIRST PERIOD. 



The first period extended from the settlement of a township to 
the time when the tillage lands had been cleared and the first tempo- 
rary dwellings of the inhabitants, frequently of logs, had given place 
to more commodious framed buildings. It was not synchronous in 
all parts of the state. Its length varied with the times of settlement 
and the industral progress of different localities. It commenced in 
Concord in 1726, and ended in 1751. In older sections it began 
earlier and ended earlier. It usually covered from fifteen to thirty 
years. 

THE SECOND PERIOD. 

The second period began when the settlers of a township, increased 
in numbers, had attained to such means as warranted the building of 
a convenient framed meeting-house of sufficient size to accommodate 
its whole population. This was longer than tlie first and reached 
onward to about the close of the first quarter of the present century. 

To this period, more than to any other, belonged the old-time ordi- 
nations and installations celebrated by our fathers. All the people of 
a town then attended meeting at one place. The meeting-house was, 
in whole or in part, the property of the town. The minister was the 
town minister, and ministerial settlements were for long periods, not 
unfrequently for life.* The induction of a new pastor to his office 
was, consequently, an occasion of rare occurrence and very great 
interest. 

In earliest days the exercises were religious only, solemn, impres- 
sive and in harmony with the occasion. At length, however, they 
took on a dual character. Of the large numbers present, one part 
gave attention to the sacred services of the occasion, while the other 
devoted itself to amusements of a character far from sacred, con- 
sisting mainly of idle converse, drinking at temporary bars, petty 
gambling and horse racing. 



* A condition of the agreement made in 1730 by the Proprietors of Fennycook 
(now Concord), with the Rev. Timothy Walker, their first minister, was " that if 
Mr. Walker, by extreme old age, shall be disenabled from carrying on the whole 
work of the ministry, that he shall abate so much of his salary as shall be 
rational." As Mr. W. was then but twenty-five years of age, it would seem that 
a long pastorate was contemplated. And such it proved, for it continued fifty-two 
years. It was not, however, an unusual one, as those of some of his contempora- 
ries clearly prove : that of Rev. E^enezer Flagg, of Chester, having been sixty 
years; of Rev. James Pike, of Somersworth, sixty; of Rev. John Wilson, of Ches- 
ter, forty-five ; of Rev. John Odlin, of Exeter, forty-eight ; of Rev. William Allen, 
of Greenland, fifty -three ; of Rev. Samuel McClintock, of Greenland, forty-eight ; of 
Rev. John Tucke, of Gosport, forty-one ; of Rev. Jeremy Fogg, of Kensington, fifty- 
two ; of Rev. William Davidson, of Londonderry, fifty-one ; of Rev. Joseph Adams, 
of Newington, sixty-eight ; of Rev. John Moody, of Newmarket, forty-eight ; of Rev. 
Samuel Parsons, of Rye, forty-eight ; of Rev. Jonathan Gushing, of Dover, fifty-two. 
No one of these had a pastorate of less than forty-one years, while seven of them 
had pastorates exceeding fifty, averaging, indeed, fifty-six and four-sevenths years. 



Said a shrewd lawyer, of Concord, to his chore boy upon his return 
from an ordination at Hopkinton, which he had allowed him to at- 
tend : 

" Did you have a ojood time, James ? " 

'^ Yes, sir," said the boy. 

" Who preached the ordination sermon ? " 

" I don't know, sir," was the lionest response. 

" Were you not present at its delivery ? " asked the master, r 

*' No, sir," was the timid answer. 

" Where were you ? " 

" I was at the horse race, sir." 

This annex to these sacred gatherings became in time so scanda- 
lous a nuisance that the General Court seems to have enacted a law, 
in 1825, for its suppression.* 

THE THIRD PERIOD. 

dp to 1819 the support of meeting-houses and the ministry was de- 
frayed by a tax upon the polls and ratable estates of the inhabitants 
of the several towns. The law of 1791 " for regulating towns and 
the choice of town officers," made the support of public worship and 
the erection and maintenance of meeting-houses town purposes. It 
provided : " That tlie inhabitants of each town in this state qualified 
to vote as aforesaid, at any meeting duly warned and holden in such 
town, may, agreeably to the constitution, grant or vote such sum or 
sums of money as they shall deem necessary for the settlement, main- 
tenance and support of the ministry, schools, meeting-houses, sciiool- 
houses, the maintenance of the poor, for laying out and repairing 
highways, for building and repairing bridges and for all other neces- 
sary charges arising within said town, to be assessed on the polls and 
estates in the same town, as the law directs." 

Soon after the close of the War of 1812, the unanimity of religi- 
ous sentiment which had before prevailed became less universal. The 
standing order had been Congregational, but now many avowed 
preferences for other denominational doctrines and were unwilling 
to contribute longer to the support of views but partially their own. A 
sentiment arose, which, ere long, became general, that the support of 

* The first section of this act provided : " That no person or persons shall keep 
any shop, tent, booth, wagon, or other carriage for the sale of spirituous or other 
liquors within the distance of two miles from any public assembly convened for 
religions worship." 

This provision, however, did not apply to trainings or other.public meetings, "called 
by lawful authority, or any fourth of July or other public anniversary, or at his or 
their own store or dwelling-house by any person or persons who shall be licensed 
according to law to retail spiritous liquors." 

The third section further provided : " That if any person or persons shall wil- 
fully interrupt or disturb any meeting assembled for religious worship by making 
a noise, or by rude or indecent behavior, or by exhibiting any shows or plays, or by 
promoting or aiding any horse-racing or gambling of any description, so as to in- 
terrupt or disturb the order of any meeting, he or they, on conviction thereof 
before any justice of the peace, shall pay a fine not exceeding ten dollars nor less 
than one dollar." 



VI 

religious worship should be voluntary and that no person should be 
taxed for its maintenance against his will.* 

In 1819, the prevailing sentiment was embodied in an act of the 
Legislature, popularly known as the Toleration Act, which severed 
entirely the connection oetween church and state. It declared " That 
the tenth section of the act of which this is an ameudment, be and 
the same is hereby repealed. Provided^ That towns, between which 
and any settled minister there is, prior to, or at the passing of this 
act, a subsistin,<>; contract, shall have a right from time to time to 
vote, assess, collect and appropriate such sum or sums of money as 
may be necessary for the fulfillment of such contract and for repair- 
ing meeting-houses now owned by such towns, so far as may be neces- 
sary to render them useful to such town for town purposes. Pro- 
vided^ That no person shall be liable to taxation for the purpose of 
fulfilling any contract between any town and settled minister who 
sliall, prior to such assessment, file with the town clerk of the town 
where he may reside a certificate declaring that he is not of the re- 
ligious persuasion or opinion of the minister settled in such town. 

" That eacli religious sect or denomination of Christians in this 
state may associate and form societies, may admit members, may es- 
tablish rules and by-laws for their regulation and government and 
shall have all the corporate powers which may be necessary to assess 
and raise money by taxes upon the polls and ratable estates of the 
members of such associations ; and to collect and appropriate the 
same for the purpose of building and repairing houses of public wor- 
ship and for the support of the ministry ; and the assessors and col- 
lectors of such associations shall have the same powers in assessing 
and collecting and shall be liable to the same penalties as similar 
town officers are liable to. Provided that no person shall be com- 
pelled to join or support or be classed with or associated to any 
congregation, church, or religious society without his consent first 
had and obtained." 



* This sentiment is apparent in the organization of denominational Societies 
about this time. During the five years of 1815-1820 inclusive, the legislature char- 
tered no less than sixty-eight, viz : 

Congregational. In 1815, Claremont, Epsom, Jaffrey, Milton, Ossipee, Pem- 
broke, Wolfeborough and Wincliester ; in 1816, Bradford, Gilsum, Lebanon, 
Loudon, New Chester, Plaistov^ and Raymond ; in 1817, Gilmanton and Mere- 
dith ; in 1818, Barrington, Campton, Hopldnton, Hillsboro', and Wilton; in 1819, 
Canaan, Conway, Farmington, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Plymouth and Wendell-— 
29. 

Baptist. In 1816, Candia, Dublin, Loudon, Northampton and Sanbornton ; in 1817, 
Hampstead, Keene and Milford ; in 1818, Chichester, Exeter, Mason, Nelson and 
Wilton ; in 1819, Chester, Chesterfield, Lee, Lyme, Newport and Pittsfield — 19. 

Methodist. In 1817, Concord ; in 1818, Dover, Landaff and Bridgewater ; in 
1819, Chester— 5. 

Universalist. In 1815, Alstead ; in 1816, Goffstown, Lebanon and Portsmouth ; 
in 1817, Rindge and Washington ; in 1818, Atkinson, Hampstead, Chesterfield, 
AVestmoreland and United Christian ; in 1819, Andover, Exeter, Winchester and 
Effingham — 14. 

Ejnscojyalian. In 1816, Walpole — 1. 



vu 



THE FOURTH PERIOD. 

It is impossible to mark definitely the commencement of the fourth 
period. In many sections the third vStill prevails. Indeed, the fourth 
has as yet readied only tlie large towns where increased populations 
as well as new religious and social requirements demand enlarged 
structures of more complicated designs. The present time may be 
considered transitional, connecting the third period now going, out 
witli the fourth gradually coming in. How long the latter is to con- 
tinue, or what are to be its marked characteristics, it is yet too early 
to predict. The announcement of its advent answers our purpose. 

THE MEETING-HOUSES OF THE FOUR PERIODS. 

The architectural characteristics of the meeting-houses of the four 
periods varied greatly, and reflect the popular demands of the sev- 
eral times to which they belong. 

THE MEETING-HOUSE OF THE FIRST PERIOD. 

This was a rude structure, and when it preceded the saw-mill, 
as it often did, had walls built of logs and a roof covered by riven 
shingles or bark. The axe, the shave, and the auger were the only 
tools required in its construction. 




OUR FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 

The meeting-house was for a time the only public building in the 
township to which it belonged, and served more uses than one. In 
it were held not only meetings for religious worship, but others for 
town and proprietary purposes as w^ell. The ratification of the con- 
stitution of the United States by New Hampshire, in 1788, was made 
in our second meeting-house. When located upon the frontier, it 
served as required, during the French and Indian wars, as a fortifica- 
tion. For that reason the window openings were small and high 



Vlll 

enough above the ground to protect the people within from the arrows 
of Indians who might be lurking in ambush witliout. a 

The first Concord meeting-house was of this description and served 
all these purposes. It afforded the only place for pulalic assemblages 
from the time of its erection in 1726-1727 to 1751. 

It was the fifteenth original meeting-house built in New Hampshire, 
and the second on the west side of Merrimack river. The earliest 
settlements of the state had been made upon the east side, and all 
the meeting-houses of earlier dates than ours, with the single excep-' 
tion of that at Dunstable, built in 1678,* had been upon that side, and 
erected at the following places and dates, viz. : Dover, 1633 or '4 ; 
Exeter, between 1638 and 1642 ; Hampton, 1638 ; Gosport,f proba- 
bly between 1679 and 1685; Durham, 1655; Portsmouth, before 
1640 ; Newcastle,^ before 1695 ; Grreenland,§ about 1706 ; Hampton, 
Falls, as early as 1611 ;§ Newington, probably before 1716 ;§ Strat- 
ham, 1718 ; Kingston, probablv not long after 1707 ; Derry, 1721 ;§ 
and Rye, 1725. || 

These were all, probably, of moderate dimensions. Ours was forty 
feet long and twenty-five feet wide. That of Boscawen, built some 
ten years later, was ordered by the proprietors of the township to be 
" forty feet long and of the same width of Rumford Meeting-House, 
and two feet higher, said house to be built of logs."^ 

Their interiors were very simple. Rows of plain benches on the 
opposite sides of a middle aisle were the seats. For these, in the 
absence of boards, logs split in halves afforded a temporary substitute. 
The men set upon one side of the house, and the women upon the 
other. By-and-by, by permission, an occasional pew was built at 
private expense and for private use. 

THE MEETING-HOUSES OF THE SECOND PERIOD. 

The meeting-houses of the second period were much larger than 
those of the first. They were built for the accommodation of en- 
larged populations, all the inhabitants of a town then gathering at 
one place for worship, and having but one minister, who was sup- 

a The records of the town of Nottingham give a clear description of one of 
these primitive meeting-honses. October 18, 1725, the proprietors voted to build 
a " block-house with a roof, sixty feet long, thirty feet wide, and ten feet high." 

About two years later, Nov. 17, 1727, they again voted, " to let the block-house 
out to be shingled and underpinned at the cheapest rate," and still later, on the 
twenty-first of May, 1729, they further voted that there " shall be no fire kept on 
the Lord's Day to Disturb the people in the public Worship in the Block-House, 
and Joseph Hall and Andrew McClerry are to lay a Flore and fit one end of the 
Block House for a minister to preach in." — Cogswell's Hist, of Nottingham, pp. 89 
and 90. 

* Fox's Hist, of Dunstable. 

f Jenness's Hist, of Isles of Shoals. 

J Albee's Hist, of New Castle. 

§ Lawrence's Hist, of New Hampshire Churches. 

II Farmer and Moore's N. H. Gazetteer. 

T[ CoflEin's Hist, of Boscawen; 



IX 

ported by a tax upon tlie polls and ratable estates in townships. 
Some of these are still standing and have undergone but little altera- 
tion. 

The floor outline of these houses was generally a parallelogram of 
some sixty by forty feet. They were of two stories, and were covered 
by roofs sloping from a common ridge to the plates of the side walls. 
They were lighted by two rows of large windows, and were entered 
by a doorway on the front side and on each end, the two last men- 
tioned being generally protected by two-storied porclies covered by 
hipped roofs. These contained vestibules and stairways leading to the 
galleries. One of these porches was sometimes carried to a height 
sufficient for a belfrey, above which rose a slender spire bearing a 
weather vane of fantastic shape, quite often that of a cock, whence 
the name, " weather-cock." 

The meeting-houses of this period were framed buildings whose 
main timbers, often of oak and of extraordinary size, were covered 
with pine boards and clapboards, to which were added base boards, 
moulded window casings, elaborately ornamented cornices, comely 
pilasters and door heads, all being in the colonial style of archi- 
tecture, of which many afforded fine illustrations. Some of them 
far surpassed in beauty the houses of tlie third period 
by which they were superseded.* But some of the humbler houses 
which were without porches, steeples or chimneys, were clieerless look- 
ing edifices, possessing few architectural features above those of a 
well-finished barn. 

Upon the outside wall, near the side of the front door, was a 
bulletin-board, upon which were posted notices of town, society, and 
other public meetings, as well as legal notices, including in particular 
the '' publishments " by the town-clerk of intended marriages. 

In early periods, w^hen many of the people went to meeting on 
horse-back, the " horse block " was an important adjunct to the 
meeting-house. At this, mounted and dismounted large numbers of 
the female members of the congregation. At a later date, when the 
carriage superseded the pillion, the '' horse block " retired and the 
horse shed appeared. 

The interior plans of the meeting-houses of this period were simi- 
lar in all. A broad aisle led from the front door to the pulpit, 
flanked on either side by a row of square pews. A narrower one, 
parallel with the walls extended all around the house to give access 
to two other rows, one between it and the walls, and another 
between it and the pews upon the middle aisle. The wall pews were 
raised about eight inches above the generarfloor level of the house. 
All were about five or six feet square, furnished with a door opening 
upon the aisle and seats upon the other three sides, so hung upon 
hinges that they could be raised when the audience stood, as during 
the " long prayer," and allow their occupants to lean upon the pew- 
rail, a matter of no small consequence. 

* Specimens of the meeting-houses of this period may be seen at Tilton and 
Henniker. 



The pulpit, which was located 
against the wall upon the side oppo- 
site the front door, was a panelled 
structure, some seven or eight feet 
as many high. It was 
a flio'ht of stairs upon one 



square and 
reached by 

side, whose rail and balusters were of 
ten of elaborate workmanship. Behind 
it was an ornamented window, often 
arched at the top, and flanked by a 
narrow one on each side. A semi- 
circular projection of its front wall 
added to its architectural importance 
and afforded a standing place for the 
minister. Above it was an elaborately 
panelled and moulded sounding board, 
sometimes attached to the wall like 
a canopy and at others suspended 
from the ceiling. Below and in front 
was a square pew for elderly men of 
impaired hearing and for the deacons. 
The gallery extended' around the 
other tliree sides of tlie house. The 
part opposite the pulpit was set apart 
for the choir. The rest of it was 
occupied by benches and pews. The 
windows, large and glazed with nu- 
merous panes of seven by nine glass, often cnrtainless and loosely 
fitted in their frames, gave free admission to the blazing sun in sum- 
mer, and, rattling in their fastenings, obstructed but little the cold 
winds of winter. 

Some of these houses were elaborately finished and very large, 
having seats of sufficient number for the accommodation of from ten 
to fifteen hundred persons. Generally located upon elevated ground 
and painted white ; like a city upon a hill, they could be seen from 
far and near. To tliem the guide-boards pointed, and to them the wor- 
shippers of this period literally " went up to the House of the Lord." 




PULPIT 



OUR SECOND 
HOUSE. 



MEETIXG- 



THE MEETING-HOUSE OP THE THIRD PERIOD. 



The meeting-house of the third period was a one-story structure 
and smaller than that of the preceding. Its ground plan was a par- 
allelogram. It was entered at one end which formed its front ; 
above the gable rose a bell tower, sometimes terminated by battle- 
ments and at others by a spire and vane. Occasionally, a portion of 
the facade was projected a little beyond its main front line and, orna- 
mented by columns supporting a low gable, formed a shallow porch. 
The window and door openings were generally rectangular, but were 
occasionally finished with round, arched heads. Most of the windows 
were very long, being about two-thirds the height of the wall, those 



XI 




THE THIRD MEF.TINCi-HOUSE. 



lighting the interior being upon the sides of the building. The 
exterior walls were elapboarded and ornamented with plain bases and 
cornices. The roof was of moderate pitch and sloped toward the 
sides. The whole exterior was usually painted white, with the excep- 
tion of the blinds, which were invariably green. Entrance to the 
audience room was through a low vestibule, above which was the 
singers' gallery. 

The interior })lan was simple. In some houses one central and two 
side aisles, and in others two side aisles extended from the entrance 
doors to a transverse passage in front of the pulpit. Upon these 
opened tiers of long and narrow pews. There were generally no side 
galleries and the pulpit, a simpler structure than that of the second 
period, stood upon a platform some three or four feet lii'jh, from 
which the clergyman could be seen by all composing his audience. 
Whenever an organ was introduced it was accommodated as best it 
could be in the singers' gallery. The meeting-houses of this period 
were warmed by stoves placed usually at one end of the house, whose 
radiating surface was supplemented by their funnels which entered 
chimneys at the other end. 

By this arrangement of the interior most auditors faced the minis- 
ter, while their better furnishings and smaller proportions rendered 



Xll 

these houses far more comfortable, particularly in winter, than those 
they had supplanted ; architecturally, they were very much inferior. 
Most of them ante-dated the advent of the architect to New Hamp- 
shire, and their designs were the joint product of the joiner and 
building committee. 

THE MEETING-HOUSE OP THE FOURTH PERIOD. 

It is yet too early to define the characteristics of the meeting- 
house of the fourth period — these are yet undetermined. In many 
localities increased wealth and enlarged populations have called for 
more artistic and imposing structures than those of the last. New 
requirements have also rendered necessary important modifications 
of former designs. The Sunday School, week-day meetings of vari- 
ous kinds, as well as more general ones of a social character, require 
new designs unlike, in many particulars, any suggested by former 
experiences. Thus far these have been fairly met, and the meeting- 
house of the present period has been constructed somewhat in accord- 
ance with architectural rules and is aesthetically the superior of those 
of former times. 

Thus, during two centuries and a half, New Hampshire has 
had four distinctly marked types of meeting-house architecture. A 
comoarison of their leading characteristics with the religious needs 
of those who reared them will conclusively show that the former were 
the suggestions of the latter, and that the block-house upon the skirt 
of the forest met as well the needs of the first period as does the 
more complicated structure of the present day the necessities of the 
last. 



OUE FIKST MEETmG-HOUSE. 

1727-1751. 



In every true picture of early New England civilization, the meeting-house 
occupies a prominent place in the foreground. One of the conditions of the 
grant of our township, imposed by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, 
from whom it was received in 1725, was, "That a convenient house for the 
public worship of God be completely finished within the term aforesaid [three 
years] for the accommodation of all such as shall inhabit the aforesaid tract of 
land."i 

This condition was faithfully and promptly fulfilled. Before the first furrows 
had been turned, even before the township had been surveyed, the intended 
settlers, at a meeting held in Andover, Massachusetts, on the eighth day of Febru- 
ary, 1726, "Agreed and voted, that a block house, twenty-five feet in breadth and 
forty feet in length, be built at Penny Cook for the security of the settlers." The 
last phrase of this vote, "for the security of the settlers" indicates plainly the 
purpose of that house. It was intended as a bulwark, not against error and 
ungodliness only, but against the fierce assaults of the savage as well. Farther 
action was taken at the same meeting by the appointment of a committee of 
five to secure its early erection. ^ And, as if this was not enough, they appoint- 
ed another committee of three to examine the charges made for this work, and 
to allow and pay from the township treasury such as they might deem reason- 
able. « 

Tradition has preserved the location of this our first meeting-house, which 
stood beneath the arches of the primeval forest, upon the north side of the 
brook now concealed beneath the roadway, near the corner of Main and Chapel 
streets. Of necessity, and appropriately as well, it was built of logs. Forty 
feet was the length of it and twenty-five feet was the breadth of it. It was of 
one story, and its rough walls were pierced with small square windows, suffi- 
ciently high from the ground to protect its occupants from the missiles of In- 
dian foes.* Its floor was the virgin soil. Its roof was of riven pine or of the 
trunks of sapling trees. 

It was commenced in 1726, the same year that the survey of the township was 

1 It is a notable fact, that the first public assembly in the townsiiip was one for public worship, held 
on Sunday, the fifleenth day of May, 1720, and composed of a committee of the General Court, survey- 
ors, and some of the proprietors, who had arrived two days before. They had come to survey the 
township and were attended by their chaplain, Rev. Enoch Coffin, who performed divine service in 
their camp at Sugar Ball Plain, both parts of the day.— Committee's Journal. 

2 Agreed and voted. That John Chandler, Moses Hazzen, Nehemiah Carlton, Nathan Simonds and 
Ebenezer Stevens be a committee, and they are hereby empowered to build, either by themselves, or to 
agree with workmen, to build a block house of twenty-five feet in breadth and forty feet in length, as iu 
their judgment shall be most for the security of the settlers."— Prop. Hec, Vol. A., p. 23. 

3 Agreed and voted, That Timothy Johnson, John Osgood and Moses Day be chosen, appointed and 
empowered to examine the charges that shall arise in building a blockhouse at a place called Penny 
Cook, or any other charges that shall arise in bringing forward the settlement, and to allow as in their 
judgment shall be just and equal, and also to draw money out of the treasury for the defraying of said 
charges."— Pro;?. liec. Vol. A., p. 24. 

4 At times during the French and Indian wars, " On the Sabbath the men all went armed to the 
house of worship; stacked their guns round a post in the middle, with powder horn and bullet pouch 
slunw across their shoulders, while their revered pastor, — who is said to have had the best gun in the 
parish,— prayed and preached with his good gun standing in the pulpit."— ^ow^on's History of Cori' 
cord, page 264. 



4 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

begun, and finished in 1727,^ months before the first family moved into the set- 
tlement. 2 It was the first permanent building completed in Penny Cook and ante- 
dates the saw and grist mills, two of the earliest and most important structures 
in early New England towns. The precise date of its completion has been lost, 
but it appears from their records that a meeting of the township proprietors was 
held in it as early as the fifteenth of May, 1727. From that time onward, for 
more than twenty years, it was the place of all considerable gatherings of the 
good people of Penny Cook. 

Two years after its completion (1729), when a sawmill had been erected, 
measures were taken to substitute for its floor of earth a more comfortable one 
of wood. 3 The year following, in anticipation of the settlement of " a learned, 
orthodox minister," farther action was taken to hasten the completion of this 
and perhaps other improvements of its interior.^ 

On the eighteenth of November of this year (1730), there assembled within 
its rude walls the first ecclesiastical council ever held iu New Hampshire north 
of Dunstable and west of Somersworth. It was convened for the purpose of 
assisting in the formation of this church and for ordaining and installing its first 
minister, the Rev. Timothy Walker, who served it with great fidelity for fifty-two 
years. ^ For a considerable time afterwards this church occupied an extreme 
frontier position. 

There is little reason to suppose that there were any social inequalities among 
the settlers of this remote township, or if, perchance, any such existed, that they 
would have been manifested in the meeting-house. One is surprised, therefore, to 
learn that leave was granted on the fifteenth day of March, 1738, to Mr. James 
Scales, afterwards for thirteen years the minister of Hopkinton, to build a pew 
upon the floor of this building.*^ 

Fourteen days later, March 29, 1738, it was decided, owing to the increase 
of population, to enlarge the existing accommodations by the erection of gal- 
leries, and, so far as necessary, to repair the house. "^ 

This little block-house beside the brook in the wilderness, rude and humble 
as it was, served the triple purpose of sanctuary, school-house and town-hall, 
clearly indicating to all who saw it the three leading elements of our New Eng- 
land civilization, — religion, universal education, and self-government. 

1 Edward Abbot deposed, tliat on the eio^hth dav of May, 1727, he with many others set out from An- 
dover on their journey to a new township called Penny Cook, in order to erect a house wliich had been 
sometime before begun, which was de-igned by the settlers for a meeting house for the public worship 
of God. — Deposition of E. Abbot, in Bow Controversy. 

2 Jacob Shute deposed " that in the full of the year 1727 he assisted in moving up the first family that 
settled at Penny Cook, that he there found a meeting house built." — Deposition of J. Shute, in Bow 
Controversy. 

3 May 1, 1729. "Voted that there be a floor of plank or boards laidin the meeting house at the charge 
of the community of Penny Cook, and that Lieut. Timothy Johnson and Mr. Nehemiaii Carlton be a 
committee to get the floor laid as soon as may be conveniently."— Pro/), liec, Vol. A, page 68. 

4 March 31, 1730. "Voted that Mr. John Merrill be added to Messrs. Timothy Johnson and Xathan 
Simonds in order to a speedy repairing of the present meeting house at Penny Cook at the settler's 
cost." 

5 The sermon on this occasion, which discussed the subject of " Christian Churches Formed and Fur.^ 
nished by Christ," was preached by the Kev. John Barnard, of Andover, Mass. The charge to the pas- 
tor was by tbe Rev. Samuel Phillips, pastor of the South Church of the same town, and the right hand 
of fellowship by the Rev. John Brown, of Haverhill, Mass. Xear the close of his sermon, Mr. Barnard 
thus alludes to some of the circumstances attending this remote settlement in the wilderness : — 

"You, my brethren, * * * * have preposcd worldly Conveuiencies and Accommodations, in your 
engaging in the settlement of this remote Plantation. There is this peculiar circumstance in your 
Settlement, that it is in a Place, where Satan, some Years ago, had his'Seat, and the Devil was wont to 
be Invooated by forsaken Salvages : A place in which was the Rendezvous and Head Quarters of our 
Indian Enemies. Our Lord Jesus Christ has driven out the Heathen and made Room for you, that He 
might have a Seed to serve Him in this Place, where He has been much dishonored in Time past."— 3fr. 
Barnard's Ordination Sermon, pages 28 and 29. 

6 March 15, 1738. "Voted that Mr. James Scales shall have liberty to build a pew in the one half of 
the hindermost seat at the west end of the meeting-house that is next the window." — Town Records, 
Vol. 1, page 69. 

1 March 29, 1738. "Voted that Ensign Jeremiah Stickney and Benjamin Rolfe, Esq., be a committee 
to take care that galleries be built in the meeting-house, and that said meetiu^-l^QUse be well repaired ut 
the town cost." 



OUR FIRST MEETING-HOUSE, 



The nations of the old world built no such structures. The French erected 
none like it upon the shores of the St. Lawrence. Neither did the Dutch at the 
mouth of the Hudson, or the Spaniards in Florida, or the Cavaliers at James- 
town. Planted upon the line where advancing civilization met retiring barbar- 
ism, this was the seed-house from which have sprung the sixteen fairer struct- 
ures which now adorn our city. When our forefathers laid upon the virgin soil 
the bottom logs of this block-house, they laid here the foundations not alone of 
a Christian civilization, but of a sovereign state capital as well. Their simple 
acts were of consequence far greater than they dreamed. 



OUE SECOjS^D MEETES'G-HOUSE, 

1751-1842. 



As time passed on, the population of the township so far increased as to im- 
peratively demand a larger meeting-house, and in 1751 a new one was erected 
upon the spot now occupied by the Walker school-house. Its frame, mostly of 
oak, was composed of timbers of great size and very heavy. The raising, 
commenced on the twelfth day of June, occupied a large number of men for 
three days. The good women of the parish asserted their uncontested rights 
on the occasion, and afforded such refreshments as the nature of the arduous 
work required.^ 

This building vvas one of great simphcity and entirely unornamented. It was 
sixty feet long, forty-six feet wide, and two stories high. It faced the south, on 
which side was a door opening upon an aisle extending through the middle of 
the house straight to the pulpit. The seats were rude benches placed upon each 
side of it ; those upon the west being assigned to the women, and those upon 
the east to the men. The deacons sat upon a seat in front of the pulpit and 
faced the congregation. A marked attention had been shown the minister by 
building for him a pew — the only one in the house. This simple structure was 
without gallery, porch, steeple or chimney. 

As the town had, at this date, owing to its controversy with Bow, no organiz- 
ed government, it was built by a company of individuals, designated '' The Pro- 
prietors of the Meeting-House," and not by the town, as was usually the case. 
Its erection, under these circumstances, is an important fact, showing conclu- 
sively the resolute character of our fathers ; for, at this very time, all the fair 
fields which they had wrested from the wilderness were unjustly claimed by per- 
sons of high poHtical and social influence in the province, who, through the 
agency of the courts, were seeking to seize them.^ 

Indeed, it was only after a long and expensive controversy of thirteen years, 
that our ancestors finally obtained, in 1762, at the Court of St. James, a decis- 
sion securing to them the peaceable possession of their homes. A new spirit 
was infused into their hearts by this removal, by royal command, of the clouds 

1 Bouton's History of Concord, page 230. 

2 The Bow controvers}', which lasted about twelve years, involved the title to more than two thirds 
of the entire territory of Concord. Our fathers held this under a grant of the General Court of Massa* 
chusetts Bav, made in January, 1725. By the settlement of the boundary line between Massachusetts 
and Xew Hampshire, in 1740, it became a part of the latter province. 

Some nine years afterwards, by virtue-, of a grant by the government of New Hampshire, made in 
;May, 1727, a company denominated the Proprietors of Bow, sought bv writs of ejectment to dispossess 
the'owners after a peaceable possession of more than twenty vears. The parcels sued for were pur. 
posely so small as to prechide appeals to the higher courts in England; the object being to so harrass 
the occupants as to force them either to an abandonment of their lands or to a second purchase of them 
from the Bow claimants. 

Our fathers regarded the whole scheme as a base swindle, and at once determined to resist its con- 
summation. Defeated in every case brouglit before the provincial courts, then largely controlled by 
these claimants, they dispatched their minister, the Rev. Timothy Walker, as their agent, to London, 
to seek redress of their wrongs in the home courts. For this purpose, he went to England no less than 
three times, once in the fall of 1753, once in 1755, and once in 17C2. On the twenty-ninth day of Decem- 
ber of this last year he obtained of the King in Council a decrt-e reversing the decisions of the Province 
Courts and estabUsliing the validity of theii' title, — a decree as just as the claims which it annihilated 
were wicked. 



OUR SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 



which had so long hung over them. This was manifested in the increased en- 
terprise everywhere apparent. Improvements, long delayed, were immediately 
commenced, now that they felt quieted in the possession of their estates.^ 

It also appeared, some years later, in the general desire to finish the meeting- 
house, which the proprietors had hitherto but partially completed. 

Measures were instituted as early as 1772 for the purchase of their interest by 
the town, but the distractions of the revolution so absorbed the time and 
thoughts of the people that nothing conclusive was done.^ Seven years after- 
wards, however (1779), the town voted "to relinquish the pew ground to any 
number of persons who would finish the meeting-house and add a porch and 
the value of another porch." It also voted " to be at the expense of building 
the steeple, excepting the cost of a porch." Two years later, on the ninth day of 
July, 1 781, a committee was appointed to secure the enlargement of the meet- 
ing-house LOT by the purchase of additional land upon the south of it. 

The next year (March 5, 1782), another committee was chosen to negotiate 
with the proprietors of the meeting-house for the purchase of their interest 
therein. 2 The parish accepred their report, and, a month later, April 8, 1782, 
in acordance with its recommendations, the purchase was made.* 

In June of this year, the parish decided to finish the house, and Col. Timothy 
Walker, Jr., Robert Harris and Lieut. Joseph Hall were constituted a commit- 
tee for that purpose. 5 The inside was completed in 1783, and, in the course of 
the next year, the outside was finished. 

It had an entrance porch at each end, twelve feet square and two stories high, 
containing a flight of stairs, in three runs, giving access to the galleries. The east 
porch was surmounted by a belfry and steeple, upon the spire of which stood, 
one hundred and twenty-three feet from the ground, a gilded weather-cock, of 
copper, four feet high and weighing fifty-six pounds. It had glass eyes and a 
proudly expanded tail. It always looked ready for a fight, ecclesiastical or 
civil. Our fathers thought much of it, and consulted its movements, in divin- 
ing the weather, with almost as much confidence as do we the daily telegrams 
from the meteorological office at Washington. 

The posts of this house, which were but partially concealed, were of white 
oak, and revealed plainly the marks of the hewer's broad-axe. They were 
twenty-eight feet long, twelve inches square at the bottom and twelve by eigh- 
teen inches at the top. Those of the bell-tower were of pine, sixty-four feet long 
and eighteen inches square. Two pitch pine timbers, each sixty feet long and 
eighteen inches square, pinned to the cross-beams, confined this tower to the 
main body of the building. The belfry roof was supported upon graceful arch- 
es and covered with unpainted tin. The bell-deck was surrounded by a hand- 

1 The diary of the pastor lor l~6i, the year succeeding that of his last return from England, affords 
marked evidence of this fact. In it he says : 

" April 20. Set out 20 apple trees in the Island orchard and in ye Joel orchard." 

"April 23. Bot -10 apple trees of Philip Eastman, brot. ym. home and set yvo.. out." 

" April 24. Set out about 60 young apple trees in ye house lot." 

" May 2. Set out eight elm trees about my house." 

" May 5. Sowed a bushel of barley and more than a bushel of flax seed and harrowed it in, N. B. — 
26th of March set out 63 young apple trees in a row, beginning next ye road; then set out two young 
plum trees ; then 5 of best winter apples ; then 9 of the spice apple, making 79 in ye whole." 

2 March 3, 1772. " Voted that John Kimball, Henry Martin and John Blanchard be a committee 
to trea.t with the proprietors of the meeting-house, or such a committee as they shall choose, in order 
ta purchase said house for the use of the parish."— Toifn Becords, Fol, 2. page 34. 

3 March 5, 1782. " Voted to choose a committee to treat with the proprietors of the meeting-house 
and see upon what terms they will relinquish the same to the parish." 

•• Voted that Peter Green, Esq., Capt, Benjamin Emery and Mr. Benjamin Hanniford be a committee 
for the purpose aforesaid." — Town Records, Vol. 2, page 112. 

A For a copy of the deed see Bouton's History of Concord, page 285. 

6 June 27, 1782. " Voted to linish the meeting-house in said Concord." 
'• Voted to choose a committee to provide materials and linish said house." 
"Voted that the committee consist of three." 

"Voted that Col. Timothy Walker, Mr. Robert Harris and Mr. Joseph HaU be a committee for the 
purpose aforesaid."— Town Records, Vol. 2, page 114. 



8 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

some railing, and, upon the belfry ceiling was painted, in strong colors, the thirty- 
two points of the compass ; of sufficient size to be easily read from the 
ground. The walls were clapboarded and surmounted by a handsome cornice. 

To the lower floor there were three entrances ; one, already mentioned, upon 
the south side, and one from each porch. Over the two last were entrances to 
the gallery. There were two aisles besides that before alluded to. One ex- 
tended from the east to the west door, and the other from one door to the other, 
between the wall pews upon the east, south and west sides of the house and the 
body pews. 

The pews were square and inclosed by pannelled sides, surmounted by turned 
balusters supporting a moulded rail. The seats were without cushions and fur- 
nished with hinges, that they might be turned up when the congregation stood, 
as it did, during the long prayer. At the close of this they all went down with 
one emphatic bang, in response to the minister's "Amen ! " 

The pulpit which was a huge, square structure and had a semicircular pro- 
jection in front, was constructed of panelling and loomed up like Mount 
Sinai, in awful majesty, high above the congregation. Behind it was a broad 
window of three divisions, above which projected forwards a ponderous sound- 
ing board, of elaborate workmanship, as curious in design as it was innocent of 
utility. 

The pulpit was reached by a flight of stairs upon the west side, ornamented 
by balusters of curious patterns, three of which, each differing from the others, 
stood upon each step and supported the rail. The bright striped stair carpet, 
the red silk damask cushion, upon which rested the big Bible, blazing in scarlet 
and gold, were conclusive evidence that our ancestors lavished upon the sanct- 
uary elegancies which they denied themselves. 

At the foot of the pulpit stairs stood a short mahogany pillar, upon which 
on baptismal occasions was placed the silver font. Just beneath and before the 
pulpit, was the old men's pew,^ to the front of which was suspended a semi- 
circular board, which, raised to a horizontal position on sacramental or business 
occasions, formed a table. A wide gallery, sloping upwards from front to rear, 
extended the entire length of the east, south and west sides of this house. 
Next the wall were square pews like those below. In front of these the space 
was occupied in part by pews and in part by slips, with the exception of a sec- 
tion on the south side, immediately in front of the pulpit, which had been inclosed 
for the use of the choir. This had a round table in the centre, upon which 
the members placed their books, pitch-pipe, and instruments of music. At a 
later date rows of seats took the place of this enclosure. A horizontal iron 
rod was placed above the breastwork in front of these, from which depended 
curtains of red. These were drawn during the singing and concealed the 
faces of the fairer singers from the congregation. At other times they were 
pushed aside. 

In the east gallery, next to and north of the door was the negro pew. It 
was plainer than the others, and, at most services, had one or more sable occu- 
pants. Still farther north, but at a later date, was another of twice the ordinary 
size, finely upholstered, furnished with chairs and carpeted. It belonged ta 
Dr. Peter Renton, a Scotch physician, who came to Concord about 1822, and 
for some twenty years was qmte prominent as a physician. 

Such was our second meeting-house when finished in 1 784, with but few, if 
any exceptions, the best in New Hampshire. 

1 It is remembered with pleasure that in the old meeting-house the venerable old men sat on a seat 
prepared for them at the base of the pulpit, wearing on their bald heads a white linen cap in summer, 
and a red woolen or flannel cap in winter. This practice continued as late as 1825 and 1830. 

Among the ancient men who thus sat in the " old men's" seat, the following are distinctly remem- 
bered: Reuben Abbott, senior; Christopher Rowell, senior; John Shute; Capt. Joseph Farnum; 
Samuel Goodwin; Moses Abbott; Reuben Abbott, 2d; Nathan Abbott and Chandler Lovejoy." — BQUtan's 
Hist. Concord, p. 629. 



OUR SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 



One object the town had in view, in lavishing so much upon it, was a very 
praiseworthy desire to accommodate the legislature, which met here for the 
first time (1782) two years before, and was evincing some disposition to make 
Concord the capital of the state. 

Such it remained until 1802. It was our only meeting-house and to it the 
families of all sections of the town went up to worship — from Bow line to the 
Mast Yard, from Beech Hill to Soucook river. ^ 

Many persons, owing to the want of good roads or of carriages, went to meet- 
ing on horseback. A man and woman often rode double, the former upon a 
saddle, in front, and the latter upon a piUion, behind.^ Why this custom was 
confined to married and elderly persons tradition does not say. For the con- 
venience of persons riding thus there was a mounting block, near the northwest 
corner of the meeting-house. This consisted of a circular flat stone, eight feet 
in diameter, raised about three feet from the ground. A few steps led to the 
top of it, from which many of our ancestors easily mounted their horses at the 
close of divine service. I am happy to say that this ancient horse-block, as it 
was termed, is in good preservation and doing kindred duty at the present 
time.* 

The expenses incurred in the completion of this, our second meeting-house, 
were met by an auction sale of the pews, of which there were forty-seven upon 
the ground-floor and twenty-six in the gallery. By this sale, it became the joint 
prpperty of the town and of the pew owners.* 

1 The population of Concord in 1800 was 2052. " The intermission was short— an hour in winter and 
an hour and a half in summer. The people all stayed, except those in the immediate vicinity; and 
hence, as everybody attended th'.> same meeting, a fine opportnnity was aflorded for everybody to be 
acquainted. Old people now say that they used to know every person in town. Thus public worship 
freatly promoted social union and ^ood feeling throughout the whole community. Whatever new or 
interesting event occurred in one neighborhood, such as a death, birth, marriage, or any accident, be- 
came a subject of conversation, and thus communication was kept up between the people of remote 
•ections, who saw each other on no other day than the Sabbath."— ^ou^ou's Histoi-y of Concord, page 

449- 

Capt. Joseph Walker, who at a considerably later time commanded a large company of cavalry, resi- 
dent in Concord and neighboring towns, was accustomed to notify meetings of his company by verbal 
notices to such members as he happened to see at the meeting-house, on Sunday. These were suffi- 
cient, although many were not present, and some lived in Canterbury and Northfield. J. B. W. 

I" • Going to meeting,' as it was called, on the Sabbath, was for seventy-five years and more the uni- 
Tersal custom. Elderly people, who owned horses, rode double— t\vQ,t is, the wife with her husband, 
■eated on a pillion behind him, with her right arm encircling his breast. The young people of both 
sexes went on foot from evey part of the parish. In summer, young men usually walked barefoot, or 
with shoes in hand ; and the young women walked with coarse shoes, carrying a better pair in hand, 

?lth stockings, to change before entering the meeting-house. The usual custom of those west of Long 
ond was to stop at a large pine tree at the bottom of the hill west of Richard Bradley's, where the 
boys and Toung men put on their shoes, and the young women exchanged their coarse shoes for a bet- 
ter pair, drawing on at the same time their clean, white stockings." — Boiiton's History of Concord, page 
628. 

S"On the west side of the old meeting-house was, and is, a horse-block, famous for its accommoda- 
tions to the women in mounting and dismounting the horses. It consists in a large, round, flat stone, 
■even and a half feet in diameter, or about twenty-two feet in circumference, raised about four feet 
high, with steps. Tradition says it was erected at the instance of the good wives who rode on pillions, 
ana that they agreed to pay a pound of butter apiece to defray the expense."— Coition's History of Con- 
cord, page 530. 

At a meeting of the Society, held on the 13th day of April, 1869, this horse-block was presented to 
the writer of this paper, as appears by the following rote in the clerk's records, viz. : " Voted that we 
p»«»«nt tl« old Horse-Block to Mr. Jos. B. Walker." 

ilfar^ 2, 1784. •♦Voted to choose a committee to vendue the pews and finish the meeting-house." 
•• Voted that this committee consist of three." 

" Voted that Capt. Reuben Kimball, Col. Timothy Walker and Lieut. John Brad- 
ley be a committee for the purpose aforesaid." 
"Voted to make an addition of two to the committee aforesaid." 
" Voted that John Kimball and James Walker be the additional committee." 
•• Voted to choose a Treasurer to receive the notes for the pews." 
"Voted that Dr. Peter Green be Treasurer." 
*• Voted to choose a committee to settle with Treasurer." 
"Voted that this committee consist of three." 
" Voted that Capt. Benjamin Emery, Peter Green, Esq., and Capt. John Roach be 

the committee for the purpose aforesaid." 
"Voted to reconsider the vote choosing Dr. Peter Green, Treasurer." 
"Voted that the committee appointed to finish the meeting-house proceed to fin- 
ish the outside of the same tne ensuing summer."— T'own Records, Vol, 2,pagcg 
1S2 and 133 



10 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

At the opening of the present century, the congreajation had so increased as 
to require its enlargement. At a meeting holden on the first day of December, 
1 80 1, the town accepted a plan for that purpose, presented by a comrhittee 
previously chosen.^ This provided for an addition of two stories to the..south 
side. At the same time Richard Ayer and others were authorized, upon fur- 
nishing suitable bonds for the faithful performance Qf the work, to makje this 
addition, at their own cost, and take in compensation therefor, the new: pew 
ground thus acquired. ^ 

This addition, which stood upon two courses of finely hammered -granite 
ashler, was a semi-polygon, having the same length as the house and a middle 
width of thirty feet. The ridge lines of its roof, starting from a common point, 
on the ridge of the old structure, half-way between its two extremes, terminated 
at the several angles of the cornice. The style and quality of the work corre- 
sponded to that to which it was an addition. Upon completion, March i, 1803, 
it was approved by the town and the bond of the undertakers was surrend- 
ered.3 




PLAN OF GALLERY, 1803. 



1 "Voted to choose a committee of seven persons to propose a plan to the town, viz. :— Jacob Abbot, 
Richard Ayer, Paul Kohe, AVilliam A. Kent, Benjamin Emery, Stephen Ambrose, Abial Virgin." 

" Voted to accept the report of the above cummittce, which is as follows, viz. : — 'The committee ap- 
pointed to report a plan for an addition to the meeiing-house report that a plan exhibited before the 
town, being a semi-circle projecring thirty feet in tront of the house, and divided into seven angles, and 
the gallery upon the plan annexed be accepted.^xnd that the owners of pews in the front of the house 
below have their choice to remain where they are or go back to the wall the same distance from the 
front door; and that the present front wall pews be placed on a level with the other body pews, that 
the owners of wall pews in front ot the gallery have as good wall pews in front of the addition.' " 

2 "Voted to choose a committee of tive to take bonds of Capt. Richard Ayer and others who came 
forward at this meeting, and offered to make ihe addition on the plan exhibited by the committee and 
accepted by the town. aIz. : Jacob Abbort, John Blanchard, Beujn' Emery, John Kimball and Enoch 
Brown, the committee, for the above purpose.'' — Toioi Records, VoL 2, page 266. 

3 March 1, 1803. " Voted to accept the report of the committee appointed to inspect the buildinff 
and tiaishingthe addition to tUe ineetiug-house, viz : ' We aforesaid committee having carefully inspected 
the materials made use of in the making the addition to and alterations in the meeting-house in Con 
cord and the workmanship in erecting and finishing the same, hereby certify that it appears to us that 



OUR SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. ii 

The cost of this addition was met by the sale of the new pews, for which it 
afforded room. These, unlike the old ones, were long and narrow and denomi- 
nated slips. 

A few years later (1809), the selectmen were directed to remove the two 
front pews, in the old part of the house, and have erected upon their site four 
slips. These, upon completion, were sold at auction for the sum of three 
hundred and twenty-two dollars and twenty-five cents, which was set aside as 
the nucleus of a fund for the purchase of a bell, in accordance with a vote of 
the town authorizing this work. Nearly ten years before this (March 31, 1800), 
the town had offered, with a prudence worthy of highest admiration, ''to accept 
of a bell if one can be obtained by subscription." This liberal offer had lain 
neglected for nine entire years until now, when private subscriptions increased 
this nucleus to five hundred dollars, and the long wished for bell was procured. 
It weighed twelve hundred pounds, and as its clear tones sounded up and down 
our valley, the delight was universal. 

The next year the town ordered it rung three times every day, except Sundays, 
viz. : at seven in the morning, at noon, and at nine o'clock at night. The times 
of ringing on Sundays were to be regulated by the selectmen. Four years 
later it was ordered to be tolled at funerals when desired. 

Our first bell ringer was Sherburn Wiggin.^ He was paid a salary of twenty- 
five dollars a year and gave a satisfactory bond for a faithful performance of 
the duties of his office. The prudence of our fathers is clearly seen in the 
practice of requiring bonds of their public servants and of annually "venduing" 
some of their less valuable offices to the lowest bidder, instead of selling them 
to the highest, as is said to have been done elsewhere in later days. But I have 
been sorry to discover in the rapid increase of the sexton's salary, a marked 
instance of the growing extravagance of our fathers, and of the rapaciousness 
of the of!ice-holders among them. The salary of the sexton rose rapidly from 
twenty-five dollars a year in 18 10, to forty dollars in 18 18, an alarming increase 
of sixty per cent, in only eight years. 

Excepting some inconsiderable repairs in 181 7-18, nothing more was done 
to our second meeting-house for about thirty yeais. An act of the legislature, 
passed in 181 9, generally known as the "Toleration Act," gradually put an end 
to town ministries and removed the support of clergymen to the religious 
societies over which they were settled. ^ 

Two new societies had been already formed in Concord, when this became a 
a law, viz : the Episcopal in 181 7, and the First Baptist in 1818. Five years 
later, on the 29th July, 1824, the First Congregational Society, in Concord, was 
formed, and upon the resignation of our third minister. Dr. McFarland, July 
II, 1824, the town ministry in Concord ceased. 

the materials made use of for each and every part were suitable, and of good quality, and that the work 
U done in a handsome, workmanlike manner. 

(Jacob Abbott, 
f Bexjamix Emery, 
Committee. { Johx Hlaxchaud, 
I JoHX Kimball, 
COKCORD, June 3, 1803 I ExocH Buowx." 

— Town Records, Vol. 2, page 276. 

1 Among our early sextons was Sherburn Wiggin in 1810; Benjamin Emery, Jr., in 1811 and 1812, to 
whom the oell ringing was vendued as the lowest bidders. Subsequently the appointment of sextons 
was left to the gelectmen. Among the later incumbents ot this office were Peter Osgood, Thomas B. 
Sargent and Joseph Brown. 

2 An act of the legislature "regulating towns and town officers," passed February 8, 1791, provided, 
"That the inhabitants of each town In this state, qualified to vote as aforesaid, at any meeting duly and 
legally warned and holden in such town, may, agreeably to the constitution, grant and vote such sum 
or sums of money as they shall judge necessary for the settlement, maintenance and support of the 
ministry." 

A subsequent act approved July 1, 1819, repealed this provision of the act of 1791 and left thj suppor t 
of the ministry to be provided for bjthe religious societies of towns. 



12 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

This important change, together with the organization of new societies, made 
advisable the disposal of the town's interest in the meeting-house, meeting- 
house lot and bell.i A committee of the town, appointed March ii, 1828, 
for this purpose, accordingly sold the town's interest in these to the First 
Congregational Society, in Concord, for eight hundred dollars. ^ In considera- 
tion of the fact that the bell was to be very largely used for the benefit of all 
its citizens, the town subsequently remitted three hundred dollars of this 
amount.^ 

But still again, in 1828, the congregation had outgrown its venerable sanctu- 
ary and the demand for more room became imperative. After much discus- 
sion, a committee was appointed on the sixteenth day of April of this year, to 
alter the square pews, on the lower floor of the old part of the house, into slips.* 

1 March 13, 1826. •' Voted, that William A. Kent, Joseph Walker and Abel Hutchins be a commit- 
tee to take into consideration the subject relative to selling the interest or right the town may have 
in the meeting-house to the First Congregational Society in Concord and report the expediency and 
terms at the next town meeting."— Tbt/J/t Records, Vol. 3, page 58. 

2 This committee reported recommending the sale of the 

Land on which the house stands for , . $300.00 

Town's interest in the meeting-house, . 200.00 

Town's interest in the bell, 300.00 

$800.00 

March 11, 1828. "Voted, that Samuel Herbert, Benjamin Parker and Isaac Eastman be a committee 
to sell and convey to the First Congregational .>ociety in Concord the interests the town have in the 
meeting-house, the land on which it stands, and the beU, agreeably to the report of the committee to 
the town at the last annual meeting, and that they behereby authorized to sell and convey the same to 
&a.\6.so(AGtY."—Toion Records, Vol. 3, page 96. 

July 25,1828. The town of Concord, by Samuel Herbert, Henjamin Parker and Isaac Eastman, a 
committee duly authorized, conveyed to the First Congregational Society in Concord, "all the right, 
title and interest we have in and unto a certain tract of land situate in said Concord, being tlie Sjame 
land on which the meeting-house occupied by said society now stands, described as follows, to wit; 
Extending from the south side of said house as first built, six rods south; from the east end of said 
house, six rods east; from the north side of said house, six rods north; and from the west end of said 
house to the original reserve for a road by the burying ground, including the land on which said house 
stands, together with said house and the bell attached to the same, reserving a iiighway on the south 
side of said house where it now is not less than four rods wide, and also at the west end of said house, 
and reserving the right to have said bell tolled at funerals and rung as usual on week days and on pub- 
lic occasions ; no shed to be erected on said land except on the north side of said house." — Merrimack 
Records, Vol. 15, page 380. 

3 November 14, 1828. " Voted that the selectmen be and are hereby authorized to endorse the sum 
of three hundred dollars on a note the town holds against the First Congregational Society in Concord, 
being the same which was relinquished for the bell."— Town Records, Vol. 3, page 121. 

4 Number and owners of pews on the lower floor of the First Congregational Society's meeting- 
house in Concord, in Juxe, 1828, together with the time when and to whom transferred: 

Nos. NAMES OF OWNERS IN 1828. WHEN AND TO WHOM TRANSFERKEI?. 

1 Society's free pew. 

2 Jacob A.Potter. Society's pew. 

3 Jonathan Eastman & William West. 

4 Mary Ann Stickney. 

5 Abial and Henry Rolfe. 

6 Richard Herbert. 

7 John Eastman. 

8 Ephraim Abbott. 

9 Isaac Virgin. " ' 

10 Hazen Virgin. 

11 Timothy Chandler. Samuel Fletcher. 

12 John Odlin. 

13 Charles Walker. Oliver L. Sanborn. 

14 Lab an Page. 

16 Thomas D. Potter & Lucy Davis. Thos. D. Potter & D. L. Morrill. 

16 John West & Theodore French. 

17 Rhoda Kimball. 

18 Patty Green. • 

19 Moses Bullen. D. N. Hoyt. 

20 E. and C. Emery's heirs. '■■■'■ 

21 Nathan Chandler, Jr. •:• 

22 Harriet Breed. James Sanborn. 

23 Abel Baker. 

24 Reuben Goodwin & Samuel Carter. Sewell Hoit. 

25 Nathaniel Eastman & Isaac Emery. 

26 Nathaniel Ambrose & Simeon Virgin. 

27 Henry Chandler & John Corlis. 

28 Henry Martin & Isaac F. Ferrin. Benjamin Park»r. 

29 Ephraim Farnum. 
10 Robert Davis. 

%\ IsoAe Farnum. 



OUR SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 13 

This change increased the number of pews from ninety-nine to one hundred 
and ten, and raised the number of sittings to about twelve hundred and fifty. 
The east, south and west wall pews remained as they were. The following plan 
shows the arrangement at this time of the aisles and seats upon the ground floor. 

Nos. NAMES OF OWNERS IN 1828. WHEN AND TO WHOM TRANSFERRED. 



32 


Asa Abbott. 


Robert Davis. 


33 


Thomas B. Sargent. 
Nathan l?alhird, Jr. 




34 




35 


Susanna Walker. 




36 


Robert Davis. 


Wm. Abbott. 


37 


Abial Walker. 




38 


Abial Walker & Nathaniel Abbot. 


A. B. Kelley. 


39 


Benjamin H. Swett. 




40 


Society's Pew. 


Nathaniel Abbott. 


41 


Joseph Farnum. 


Abial Walker. 


42 


Ezra Ballard. 




43 


Timothv Carter. 




44 


Abner Farnum. 




45 


Moses Farnum. 




46 


Moses Carter. 




47 


Samuel B. Davis & A. B. Davis. 




48 


James Buswell. 


Proctor. 


49 


Richard Ayer. 


E. S. Towle. 


50 


Charles Eastman. 




61 


Isaac Dow. 




62 


James Ea-tman. 




63 


Daniel Fisk. 




54 


liichard Flanders & Sons. 




55 


Betsey & Hannah Whitney. 




56 


John Dimond. 


S. A. Kimball. 


57 


John George. 




68 


Moses Shute. 




59 


George Hutchini. 


James Straw. 


60 


Jonathan Ambrose. 




61 


John Lovejoy. 




62 


Thomas Potter. 




63 


Eliza Abbott. 




64 


Isaac Shute. 




65 


Jonathan Wilkins. 


Ivory Hall. 


66 


Abial Eastman. 




67 


John Eastman. 




68 


Millen Kimball. 




69 


John Putney. 


State of New Hampshire. 


70 


Margaret Dow. 


Dr. Colby. 


71 


Samuel Morrill. 




72 


Samuel A. Kimball. 




73 


Asaph Evans. 




74 


S^amuel Fletcher. 




75 


Richard Bradley. 




76 


Moses Hall. 




77 


Jeremiah Pecker. 




78 


Enoch C'ffin. 




79 


Joseph Low. 




80 


Isaac Hill & Wm. Hurd. 




81 


Charles Hutchins. 




82 


Abel Hutchins. 




83 


Joseph Eastman. 


Jacob Clough. 


84 


Joseph Eastman. 


Simeon Farnum. 


85 


Jacob Hoit. 




86 


Frye Williams. 




87 


Samuel Herbert. 




88 


William A. Kent. 




89 


William Stickney. 




90 


John Glover. 




91 


Orlando Brown & Sarah Dearborn. 




92 


Richard Aver. 




93 


Nathaniel Abbott. 




94 


Klizabeth McFarland. 




95 


George Kent. 




96- 


Stephen Ambrose. 




97 


Simeon & henjamin Kimball. 




98 


Jonathan Wilkins. 




99 


Parsonage. 





14 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 



-f] 



PORGH 





























































/ 




// 




/A 


U^ 



T«wM ' 



PLAN OF GROUND FLOOR IN 1 828. 



It is a notable fact that very soon after the meeting-house had attained it^ 
greatest capacity, its congregations began to rapidly diminish. This was due 
to the formation of other religious societies. The number of regular members 
which in 1825 was two hundred and twenty-two, had fallen in 1833 to one hun- 
dred and seventy-three, and the audiences had decreased correspondingly. 
Besides those who had withdrawn to form new organizations of other denom- 
inations, there began, in the year last named, a farther exodus of members to 
form the West Concord society. This was followed by another in 1837, to lay 
the foundations of the South society. These had reduced its membership in 
1 84 1 to one hundred and five. The next year, the East Concord members left 
and formed the Congregational society in that village. Thus, quartered and 
diminished in its membership more than one half, we can readily see that the 
remnant, with its families, was insufficient to fill the great structure of which it 
now found itself the sole possessor. 

Its fifty great windows, each witli its forty panes of glass, looked more staring 
than ever before, and rattled, when the wind blew, as they had never rattled 
before. The voice of the minister reverberated through the vast area, and his 
eye sought in vain, upon the floor and in the galleries, the dense ranks of men, 
women and children, numbering some ten or twelve hundred, which had been 
wont to greet him. 

We are not, therefore, surprised to find, as we turn over the well kept records 
of the society, that there came one day (March 17, 1841), before a meeting of 
its members, a proposition to leave the old sanctuary and build a new and smaller 
one. This, after long consultations and various delays, caused in part by differ- 
ences of preference as to location, resulted in the erection of our third meeting- 
house, at the corner of Main and Washington streets. 

But before leaving the old house for the new one, the members of the several 
societies which, from time to time, had gone out therefrom, met within its con- 



OUR SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 15 

secrated walls, and, after prayer, and song, and pleasant reminiscences, bade it 
farewell forever.^ 

. This imperfect sketch would be still more so should I neglect a passing allu- 
sion to some of the assemblies, other than religious, convened from time to time 
in our second meeting-house. 

As early as 1778, a convention was here holden to form a plan of government 
for the state of New Hampshire. 

The first time the legislature ever met in Concord, March 13, 1782, it assem- 
bled in this house. 2 Owing, however, to the cold, it adjourned for that session 
to another building temporarily prepared for its accommodation.^ From the 
year 1782, onward to 1790, when our first town-house was built, were held in 
our second meeting-house no less than fifteen sessions of the General Court. 

The adjournment, just alluded to, suggests the fact that for two centuries 
after comiiig to this country, our New England ancestors had no fires in their 
sanctuaries. They accepted the weather as God sent it and were content. If 
in summer, the sun shining through great unshaded windows, dazzled their eyes, 
they contracted their eyebrows and bore it, either with winking or without, as 
individual preferences suggested. If in winter the cold in God's house was 
intense, they shrugged their shoulders, worked their toes, and, so far as they 
could, got carnal warmth from the fervor of their devotions. But it must have 
been very chilly for the ungodly on such occasions. That at the noon inter- 
mission such should have sought spiritual invigoration at Hanaford's Tavern near 
by, may have been inexcusable, but it was not inconsistent with the native 
depravity of that time. 

. Means of warming were introduced into the old North meeting-house in 
1821.^- A moderate sized box-stove was placed in the broad aisle, which had a 
very long funnel, which was taken through the ceiling to a very short chimney in 
the attic. 

This central warmer proved but partially satisfactory, and may have operated 
like a similar one in the meeting-house of another town, which was said 

■ 1 " Previous to leaving the old North meeting-house as a place of public worship, a union meeting 
of the four Congregational churches in town was held in it. The meeting was attended two successive 
days, viz. : Tlnirsday 27th and Friday 28th of September, in which the several pastors took part, viz. .• 
Rev. Asa P. Tenncy'of the "West church ; Rev. Daniel J. Xoyes of the South church; liev. Timothy 
3Iorgan, preacher at East church; and the pastor of the First church. In the forenoon of Friday, the 
pastor preached a discourse on reminiscences of the old meeting-house. In the afternoon, about five 
hundred and fifty comtnunicants, belonging to the four >ister churches, sat down to the Lord's Supper. 
It was a season of tender and atfecting interest. Many wept at the thought of a separation from the 
place where they and their fathers had so long worshipped." — Boutoii's. History of Concord, page 462. 

2 The General Assembly, in session at Exeter, voted on the twelfth day of January, 1782, " That 
when the business of this" session i^ finished, the General Court be adjourned to mcet'at Concord, at 
such time as shall be agreed upon by the said General Conrt."~Provincial Papers, vol. 8, page 930. 

The tradition is that'Col. Timothy Walker, tlien a member of the House from Concord, remarked to 
some of the members who were complaining of the treatment which they had received at their boarding- 
houses, that if the General Assembly would hold its next session at Concord they should be as well 
accommodated as at Exeter and for half the money. Thereupon the Assembly adjourned to Concord. 

Upon his return home, the Colonel informed his neighbors of his promise and the consequences 
thereof, and that at its next session all must open their Itouses for the accommodation of the members 
of the General Court. This they at once agreed to do, and subsequently did, to general satisfaction. 
Since then, fourty-four sessions of the General Court have been held in Concord, up to .1816, when it 
became the capital of the state. 

3 The hall fitted up for this occasion was in the second story of the house now standing on the 
west side of Main street, next north of the house of Enoch Gerrish. At that time, it stood upon the 
east side of the street and a few rods south of its present location. 

4 Af I can never forget the faces within, so I never can the furious winds which howled about the 
ancient pile, the cold br which it was penetrated, and the stamping of men and women when within the 
porches, as they came from afar, and went diiectfrom their sleighs to an immense apartment in which 
there was no fire, except that carried thither in foot-stoves. The rattling of a multitude of loose win- 
dows, my tingling feet, the breath of people seen across the house, as the smoke of chimneys is discerned 
on frosty mornings, the impaieuce of the congregation, and the rapidity of their dispersion, — are they 
not all upon the memory ot those who worshipped in th:t house previous to the year 1821? Then my 
father suggested that iu' winter there be only one service, which led to the purchase of a moderate-sized 
box-sto^e, and its erection half way up the central aisle. This, strange as it mav seem, was a departure 
fitom old custom which encountered some opposition. — Biography and Recollections by Asa McFar- 
Iqnd, page 104. 



1 6 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

to have driven all the cold air from the middle of the house to the sides, rendering 
the wall pews more uncomfortable than ever before. The introduction of a 
stove into a meeting-house often met great opposition and caused serious Com- 
motion. The excitement raised by the setting up of a stove in the meeting- 
house at Webster, in 1832, was quieted only by a general agreement, embodied 
in a vote passed at a regular meeting of the society, •' to dispense with a fire in 
the stove the first Sabbath in each month through the cold season."^ 

Before the introduction of the stove, many among the more delicate portion 
of the congregation had sought a slight mitigation of the frosts in God's house 
by the use of " foot-stoves." These continued in quite general use so long as 
our society worshipped in this house. The heat of such a warmer came from a 
pan of coals inclosed in a box of tin. No man here present, who was a boy 
forty or fifty years ago, will ever forget the Sunday labor imposed upon him in 
cold weather by the filling and carrying back and forth of one of these. The 
stern fathers of the previous generation may, very Hkely, have regarded them as 
vanities, and this Sunday labor as unnecessary and sinful. To this good Puritan 
opinion, I doubt not that the boys who had mastered the catechism, and the 
families in the immediate vicinity of the meeting-house levied upon for Coals, 
would have readily assented. 

It was in our second meeting-house that the New Hampshire State Conven- 
tion was holden, on the 21st day of June, 1788, which, as the ninth assembled 
for that purpose, ratified the Federal Constitution and started upon its glorious 
career the government of the United States. In this house was also held the 
conventions of 1791-2, to revise the constitution of the state. 

Fourteen times from 1784 to 1806 did the legislature march in formal pro- 
cession to this house, to hear the annual election sermon, which preceded its 
organization, and every year afterwards, until 1831, when the sermon was dis- 
continued. Thirty-nine of all the election sermons preached before the legisla- 
ture of New Hampshire were delivered in this house, and three of them by 
pastors of this church. 2 

From 1765 to 1790, a period of twenty-five years, all annual and special 
town -meetings were held in this meeting-house. Here our townsmen, many of 
whom rarely, if ever, met on other occasions except for divine worship, as- 
sembled to exchange friendly greetings and discharge their civil duties as Amer- 
ican citizens. Here, also, protracted religious meetings were held from time to 
time, the most memorable of which was that of 1831. Here important ad- 
dresses were delivered to large assemblies on fourth of July and other occasions 
of general interest. Herein 1835 was delivered before the General Court a 
eulogy on Gen. Lafayette, by Nathaniel G. Upham. Here were held conven- 
tions for the promotion of temperance. Here occurred, in 1834 and 1835, ^^^ 
memorable trials of Abraham Prescott, for the murder of Mrs. Sally Cochran, 
of Pembroke. Here was had that sharp political encounter between Franklin 
Pierce and John P. Hale upon the latter's leaving the Democratic party in 1845. 
The walls of no other house in New Hampshire resounded to so many lofty 
flights of eloquence as did those of our second meeting-house, from 1 75 1 to 
1842 

A few years after its abandonment", this ancient structure was sought by the 
trustees of the Methodist General BibHcal Institute as the seat of that institu- 
tion, which it was proposed to remove from Newbury, Vermont, to this city. 
This society and the pewholders cheerfully conveyed to them their several inter- 
ests in the building and lot, and public-spirited citizens of Concord subscribed 
some three thousand dollars for so remodelling the house as to suit the new 

1 Coffin's History of Boscawen and Webster, page 238. 

2 The election sermon was preached by our second pastor, Rev. Israel Evans, in 1791; by our tiblrA 
pastor, Rev. Dr. Asa McFarland, in 1808; and by our fourth pastor, Rev. Dr. Natiiaulel BcratM, U 10SI. 



OUR SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 17 

> — — — — 

purpose to which it was to be devoted. The pulpit, pews and galleries were re- 
moved ; a second floor was introduced, and the two stories, thereby secured, 
were divided into dormitories and lecture rooms. ^ It continued the seat of the 
institute until its removal to Boston, when, in accordance with terms of its con- 
veyance, twenty years before, it reverted, with the land upon which it stood, to 
the First Congregational Society of Concord. It was subsequently sold to pri- 
vate parties, and the proceeds of its sale were devoted to the purchase of the 
society's parsonage. With sad hearts its many friends afterward saw it degraded 
to a tenement house of a low order. But its desecration was brief. On the 
night of Monday, November 28th, 1870, the purifying angel wrapped a mantle 
of flame about it and transported it heavenward upon a chariot of fire. 

Not long afterwards the Union School District purchased the site of it, and 
reared thereon one of the fairest school-houses of which this, or any other New 
Hampshire town, can boast. It bears upon its south facade a tablet with the 
following inscription : 



^^T.KER SCHOOL 



ON THIS SPOT, 

CONSECRATED TO RELIGION AND LEARNING, 

WAS ERECTED IN I 75 I, 

THE FIRST FRAMED MEETING-HOUSE 

IN CONCORD, 

WHICH WAS USED FOR NINETY-ONE YEARS 

AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP BY 

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY 

OF THE TOWN, 

AND WITHIN WHOSE WALLS ASSEMBLED 

IN 1788 

THE NINTH STATE CONVENTION WHICH RATIFIED 

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, 

FROM 1847 TO 1867 

IT WAS OCCUPIED BY 

THE METHODIST GENERAL BIBLICAL INSTITUTE. 

BURNED IN 1870, 

ITS SITE WAS PURCHASED BY 

THE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, 

WHICH HAS CAUSED TO BE ERECTED 

THEREON THIS STRUCTURE, 

A. D. 1873. 



1 A portion of the pulpit is in possession of the New Hampshire Historical Society, 
2 



OUE THIRD MEETI:N^G-'H0USE. 

1842-1873. 



Our third meeting-house was a less imposing edifice than our second one. 
The diminished membership of the society called for a smaller house of wor- 
ship. Rarely before, and never since, has its pecuniary ability been less than at 
that time. The general drift of population also demanded a more southerly 
location. But many had a strong attachment to the old spot and to the old 
sanctuary. Some, therefore, proposed the remodelling of the latter, while others 
suggested the erection of a new house upon the site of it. But the majority 
opinion favored both a new location and a new house. Two subscription papers, 
which were then circulated, indicate the preferences of different members of 
the society. That for a new house upon the old lot, dated November 20th, 
1841, contains the names of forty-three persons, subscribing for eighty-two 
shares. 1 The other, dated April 7, 1842, for a new house at the corner of 
Main and Washington streets had upon it the names of thirty-nine signers, 
agreeing to take one hundred and three shares. ^ 

After repeated meetings and protracted deliberations, the new location was 
adopted. The deed of it to Nathaniel Abbot, Shadrack Seavey, James Bus well, 
James Moulton, Jr., and Jonathan E. Lang, the committee to build the new 
house, bears date May 16, 1842. The sum paid for it was thirteen hundred dollars. 

The plan of our third meeting-house was in general conformity to the style 
of such structures then prevailing in New England. It was of one story with a 
bell-tower and steeple forming a part of the facade. It faced the east and was 
eighty feet in length and fifty feet in width. It had long, square-topped windows 
upon the sides and a slightly projecting porch in front, whose roof rested upon 
four plain, round columns, some twenty-five feet high. The corner-stone was 
laid and the frame raised July 4, 1842. It was dedicated on the twenty-third 
day of November of the same year. When completed, it was a comely enough 

1 This subscription paper read> as follows, viz.: "We the undersinfiied, inhabitants of Concord, 
believing that the interests and future prosperity of the First Congregational Society in Concord 
requires the erection of a new house for public worship, do hereby agree to aid in the erection of a 
new house of worship for said society by taking the number of shares set against our names respect- 
ively, and pay the sum of fifty dollars for each and every share we may have subscribed for to a com- 
mittee, hereafter to be chosen by the subscribers, for the purpose of purchasing materials and making 
all necessary contracts for the erection of a new house of wo'rship. The house to be located on land 
now owned'bv said society and the same on which the house now occupied by said society now stands. 

Concord, Nov. 20, 1841. 

Subscribers' Names and Number of Shares.— Abial AValker, 10; F. N. Fisk, 10; R. Bradley, 6; 
S. Coffin, i; Nath. Abbott, 4: R. E. Pecker, 2; Jona. E. Lang, 2; Sarah A. Virg-in, 1 ; Samuel Her 
bert, 2; Albert Herbert, 1; Ezra Ballard, 1; Nathan Ballard, 2; John Flanders, 1; Eben Fisk, 1 
Abira Fisk, 1; Samuel Morrill, 2; Daniel Knowlton, 1; D. N. Hoit, 2; L. Roby, 2; James Woolson, 1 
Ivory Hall, 1; James Buswell, 1; Lawrence Cooledge, 1; Benjn Farnum,2; Shadrack Seavey. 2; Jacob 
Flanders, 1; Moses Shute, 1; John Corlis, 1; Isaac Proctor, 1; Joseph S. Abbot, 1; Nathan K. 
Abbot, 1. Whole number of shares, 69." Amount, $3,450.00. Original on file in Society archives. 

2 Upon this paper were the following nam.os and number of shares, viz. : " Samuel Coffin, 8 shares ; 
Richard Bradlev, 10; F. N. Fisk, 4; Nathl Abbot, 5; J. E. Lang, 4; S. Seavey, 4; Samuel Morrill, 4; 
James Buswell, 3; R. E. Pecker, 4; D. N. Hovt, 2; James Woolson, 3; J. Cooledge, 3; S. Herbert, 2; 
N. Bouton,4; B. Whitney, 2; E. Hall,l; E. Philbrick, 1 ; Albert Herbert, 2; Ivory Hall, 1; Joseph 
Low, 2; J. C. Ordway, 1; Mary A. Stickney, 2; Danl Knowlton, 1; B. Farnui-n, 4; D.A.Hill, 2; 
Porter Blanchard, 2 ; Jno. Eastman, 1 ; Sarah Kimball, 1 ; Joshua Sanborn, 1 ; G.W. Ela, 1 ; A. Fowler, 1 ; 
H. M.' Moore, 3; Sewell Hoit, 3; James Buswell for C A. Davis, 6; Ira Perley, 1; Franklin Pierce, 1; 
Mary C. Herbert, 1 ; Jos. Eastman, 2. Whole nupabpr shares, 103." Original on file in Society archives, 



OUR THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 



^9 



structure of wood, in a ubiquitous coating of white paint, which, we are happy 
to know, is no longer the only orthodox color for an orthodox meeting-house. 
It had an audience room seventy feet long, forty-eight and a half feet wide, 
and twenty-four feet high . A broad aisle extended through the middle of it, 
from the vestibule to the pulpit, and there was one of a less width, but of the 
same length, next to the north and south walls. The singing gallery was over 
the vestibule. Its length corresponded with the width of the church. It was 
ten feet deep and about fourteen feet high. The pulpit was a neat, mahogany 
structure.^ On each each side of it was a single tier of pews extending to the 
wall. In front of it were four tiers. The whole number of pews was eighty- 
eight, affording about four hundred and fifty sittings. The following floor plan 
shows the arrangement of pews, aisles and vestibule : 



^o^ 



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77 


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101 


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b3 


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bM 


xr 


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pORCH 




FLOOR PLAN OF OUR THIRD MEETING-HOUSE. 

In 1848 this house was enlarged by an addition of fifteen feet at the west end. 
This gave room for twenty additional pews and raised its seating capacity to 
about six hundred. A little later, its glaring white walls were frescoed, and the 
blaze of the sun through the windows v/as softened by the introduction of inside 
blinds. On the front of the gallery was a round-faced clock, which rarely kept 

1 This, wliiclrwas made bv Porter Blancliard and Sous, was a few years since given to the East 
Concord Congregational society and is stillinuse. 



20 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

the ninth commandment, and fortunately was visible only to the minister, except 
during the singing, when the congregation arose, turned their backs to the pulpit, 
and "faced the music." 

Until the formation of the South Congregational Society, in 1837, evening 
religious meetings were held in the town hall. After the withdrawal of persons 
belonging to that society, this room was found too large for such meetings and 
they were ere long transferred to rooms in the Merrimack County Bank building, 
now belonging to the New Hampshire Historical Society. These, however, 
proved as much too small as the town-hall had been too large, and the want of 
a suitable chapel became so imperative that, on the fourteenth day of March, 
1855, the pastor, Dr. Bouton, addressed to the society a communication setting 
forth its importance and tendering a subscription of fifty dollars towards its 
erection. About the same time the Ladies' Sewing Circle sent another, tender- 
ing a contribution of four hundred and fifty dollars for the same object. 

In response to these generous offers, the society passed a suitable vote of 
thanks ; but no decisive action upon the subject was taken until its annual meet- 
ing on the seventeenth of March, 1858. At this time Shadrack Seavey, Dr. 
Ezra Carter and Moses H. Bradley were made a committee "to consider the 
subject of providing a vestry for the accommodation of the society and to 
report at an adjourned meeting." 

About a month later, on the 12th of April, 1858, another committee, previous- 
ly appointed, reported that, "' in their belief a vestry suitable for the use of the 
society can be erected upon the land belonging to the society in rear of the 
church." 

On the twenty-sixth of the same month, Leonard Holt, for the last committee, 
submitted a plan for a chapel, which was approved, and the committee were 
directed "to circulate papers and obtain subscriptions for the building." 

The committe were so far successful that, on the 31st of May following, they, 
together with the prudential committee of the society, were directed to proceed 
to its location and erection upon the west part of the church lot. The work 
was at once commenced and prosecuted to completion in the autumn of 1858. 
It was dedicated, soon after, by appropriate services to the uses for which it was 
intended. On that occasion the pastor expressed a hope that extemporaneous 
speech might prevail within its walls, and that written discourses might attract 
attention by their absence only. 

It became too small for us ere long, and was enlarged by an addition 
to the north end, which affords a kitchen and dining-room, for use on social 
occasions. In June, 1873, it came near meeting the fate of our third meeting- 
house, and was partially burned. But it was subsequently repaired, and is in 
active service still. 

In 1855, largely through the efforts of Mr. Reuben L. Foster, a subscription 
of nearly fifteen hundred dollars (^1,467.10) was made, by members of the so- 
ciety, to provide for the meeting-house a steeple clock, and to inclose its lot up- 
on the east and south sides by a stone and iron fence. 

Some years later (1869), upon the introduction of a new organ, the singer's 
gallery was lowered and remodelled, the audience room was ventilated, the 
pews were repainted, and the walls and ceilings frescoed anew. 

By these alterations and repairs the interior of our third meeting-house was 
made both convenient and agreeable. It continued without further change un- 
til the morning of Sunday, June 29th, 1873, when, like its predecessor, it was 
seized by devouring flames and translated.^ 

IThe fire was communicated to the meeting-house from the carriage shops of Mr. Samuel M. GriflBn, 
near by upon the north, which had been fired by an insane person possessed with the idea of clearing a 
site at the corner of Main and Washington streets for a splendid Spiritual temple. He was soon after 
arrested aud committed to the Asylum for the Insane, 




OUR FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE. 



OUE FOURTH MEETIISTG-HOUSE. 

1874. 



The pulpit, with some other furniture of the church which had escaped the 
flames, was removed, soon after daylight, to the city hall. Here the society 
worshipped that day, and had a temporary home until March, 1876, when this, 
our fourth meeting-house, was ready for occupancy. 

On the evening of the day following that of the fire (June 29, 1873), an in- 
formal meeting of the society, fully attended, was held at the City Hall to con- 
sider the existing situation, and to take such action in relation thereto as might 
be deemed advisable. While the meeting was in some degree a sad one, there 
were apparent no signs of despondency. After prayer by the pastor, the former 
pastor. Dr. Bouton, venerable in years and strong in the affections of the peo- 
ple, arose and said, " Let us rise up and build," and all the people responded, 
"Amen ! " The resolutions, which he offered, deploring the loss of our third 
meeting-house and pledging the society to the erection of a new one, passed 
without a dessenting vote.^ The keynote was struck, and the settled purpose 
of the people was expressed. 

Immediately afterwards a committee was raised to investigate the title to the 
lot upon which the late meeting-house had stood, and to suggest a scheme for 
raising means for the erection of a new one, with instructions to report at a le- 
gal meeting to be called as soon as possible. ^ 

At the same time, another was appointed to procure plans and estimates of 
the cost of a new house of worship.^ 

At a legal meeting, duly called and holden some three weeks later (July 21), 
the action of the informal meeting, just mentioned, was confirmed, and it was 
" Voted unanimously that we rebuild upon the old site, if no legal disabilities be 
found." It was also decided that the money arising from insurance of the 
organ be set aside and used, when needed, in the purchase of a new one.* 

The question as to the location of the contemplated house gave rise to con- 
siderable discussion, but the prevalent opinion favored building upon the old 
lot. A difficulty, however, presented itself in the fact, that the title of the lot 
was found to be not in the society but in the pew holders of the old house, who 

1" Resolved that we deeply deplore the destruction by fire on the morning of Sunday, the twenty- 
ninth instant, of the beautiful house in which we and our fathers have worshipped during the period of 
an entire generation." 

" Resolved that while we humbly acknowledge the providence of God in this great loss, we gratefully 
acknowledge the many blessings conferred on us as a church and religious society; and, trusting still 
in Him, resolve with united hearts to arise and build another edifice for His worship and to the honor 
of His name." — Society Records, Vol. 3, page 80. 

2 "Voted that a committee of three be appointed to examine into and report at a future time in re- 
gard to the question of pew-holder's title to the land on which the house stood. Messrs. J. B. Walker, 
Enoch Gerrish and Sylvester Dana were appointed said committee." 

■" The best means to be adopted for procuring the means to erect the proposed new house of worship 
was referred to Messrs J. B. Walker, Gerrish and Dana, with instructions to report on the same at the 
next regular meeting of the society."— .Socie^?/ Records, Vol. 3, page 84. 

3 This committee, which consisted originally of Shadrach Seavey, M. H. Bradley and James Hazel- 
ton, was subsequentl.r enlarged by the addition of William G. Carter, Benjamin S. Warren, Edward A. 
Moulton, Joseph B. \VaIker, Abner C. Holt, John Abbot, Samuel S. Kimball, Isaac N. Abbot, George 
F. Page, and Mark R. Holt. — Society Records, Vol. 3, page 85. 

40n motion of Dr. William G. Carter, it was " Voted that the insurance money on the organ, when 
received, be set apart and kept intact for the purchase of a new organ, and that it be placed in the 
hands of the Financial Agent of the society." — Society Records, Vol. 3, page 86. 



22 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 



severally had in it an undivided interest proportioned to the original values of 
their pews. Some of these were not members of the society and felt no special 
interest in the erection of a new house. Those who contemplated doing so 
were unwilling to build upon land to which they had no title. This embarrass- 
ment was finally removed by a transfer by the former pew-owners, for nominal 
considerations, of their several interests in the lot to the First Congregational 



Society in Concord. Nearly all 



signed 



the conveyance 1 which bears date 



1 Know all men bv these presents, that we, the subscribers, chiefly of Concord in the county ofMerri- 
mack and State of New Hampshire, proprieiors of pews in the meeting-house recently occupied bythe 
First Congregational Sofietv in Cancoi-d, and owners of the lot of land in said Concord on which said 
house was situated, in consideration of one cent and of other valuable considerations, the receipt of 
which is hereby acknowledged, do hereby remise, release, and forever quitclaim unto the First Congre- 
gational Society in Concoi-d, a legal corporation, our respective undivided shares in the said lot of land 
appurtenantto and equal ta the proportioned value of tae pews ia said house, according to the original 
appraisal thereof, whose numbers are prefixed to our respective names; which said said lot is bounded 
easterly 85 feet by Main street, southerly 200 feet by Washington street, westerly 100 feet and northerly 
198 feet, by lands of Samuel M. Griffin. 

To have and to hold the same, with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging, to the 
said society, its successors and assigns fjrever; provi.le I, liowev'er, that this deed shall not take effect 
until the proprietors of at least seventy-two pews in said house shall have executed the same; and 
provided further that the said society, within two months after the delivery to it of this deed, shall exe- 
cute and deliver to an association of pei-sons who may then undertake to eri-c: a new house of worship 
on said lot, a lease of the same, fjc a nominal rent and for such period of time as said house may 
remain upon said premises. 

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands and affix our seal this eleventh day of August, in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three. 

Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us : [Seal.] 



B. S. Wairen, I. N.Abbott. 

M. H. Farnum, Charles C. Neal. 
P. H. Larkin, Caleb Brown. 
P. H. Larkin, Caleb Brown. 
J. 31. Hovt, S. M. Hurd. 
Caroline 13, Koby, Luther Robv, 
Abby H. Sweetser, Ada J. Clark. 
Henry S. Dunlap, S. E. Straw. 
Byron Moore, C. T. Huntoon. 
Mary E. Lang, M. H. Bradley. 
Frances M. Abbot, W. S. Abbot. 
John C. Thorn, M. H. Bradley. 

A. J. Herbert, M. H. Bradley. 
H. Campbell, J. D.Johnson. 
Mrs. J. E. I^ang, Ella S. Lang. 
AlmiraSilsby,Mrs. C. F. Stewart. 
Charles A. Robinson, Mrs. C. F. Stewart. 
Helen P. Stearns, Moses H. Bradley. 
Moses H. Bradley, M. O. Gerrish. 
Hattie E. Carter, Moses H. Bradley. 
Hattie E. Carter, Moses H. Bradley. 
Warren E. Freeman, M. H. Bradley. 

E. A. Moulton, Mrs. M. C. Moulton, 
S. R. Moulton, Mrs. M. C. Moulton, 

C. F. Nichols, E. A. Moulton. 
Chas. P, Hoyt, E, A. Moulton. 
Edna A. Bean, E. A. Moulton, 
W. H. Pitman, W. Odlin. 

Geo. D. B. Prescott, C. R. Gi-eenough. 
Sarah E. Jones, M. H. Bradley. 

D. S. Palmer, M. H. Bradley. 
J. B. Walker, C F. Stewart. 

B. S. Warren. Butler Jones. 
S. F. Buswell,C. F. Stewart. 

C. F. Stewart, H. Campbell, 
H, Campbell, Isaac N. Abbot, 
.leiemiah S. Abbot, Isaac N. Abbot, 
Isaac N. Abbot, Lucia A. Flanders. 
N, K. Abbot, I, N, Abbot. 

John Ballard, I. N. Abbot. 
David Farnum, I N. Abbot. 
Joseph S. Abbot, E, A. Flanders. 
C. P. Blanchard, Laura Roby. 
N. J. Guild, C. P. Blanchard. 
Fanny Kittredge, C. P. Blanchard. 
C. P. Blanchard, George Simonds. 
L. W. Durgin. C. P. Blanchard. 

E. H. Paige, Chas. P. Blanchard. 
M. J. Utley, C, P. Blanchard, 
John C, Thorn, Chas. P. Blanchard. 
B. S. Warren, John C. Thorn. 
Mrs, Marv C. Gove, ,J. B. Walker. 
Chas. R. Walker, Abby H.Jones. 
Chas, B. Walker, Clara E. Chase. 



No. 



.%. 


J. li. Walker. 


77. 


Chas. P. Blancliard. 


23,30, 65. 


F. A. Fisk. 


2i, 43, 97. 


Moses 11. Bradley, 


11, 12. 


Rebecca A. Davis, 


9. 


Marv Ann Roby. 


52, 


H. P, Sweetser. 


108. 


Andrew Bunker. 


|7L 


Geo. H. 3Iarston. 


48, 59. 


Clara P. Morrill. 


102. 


John Abbot. 


i)5. 


Calvin Thorn. 


32. 


Nancy B. Herbert, 


103. 


J. C.Tilton. 


30, 76. 


Mary E. West. 


49. 


Emeline A. Pecker, 


37. 


Fannie P, Robinson, 


15 


L, A, Walker, 


53. 


Enoch Gerrish, 


33. 


Ezra Carter. 


63.- 


W. G, Carter, 


101. 


J H. Stewart. 


82. 


B. S, Moulton. 


107. 


E. A. Moulton. 


50. 


A. M. Grant. 


51. 


C. W. Moore. 


54. 


James Hazelton. 


57 & 70. 


Daniel A. Hill. 


14. 


Charles E. Ballard. 


34. 


Harriet F, Coffin, 


45. 


Svlvester Dana, 


1. 


G, W, Ela, 


8. 


Mrs. J. C. Ordwav. 




Mrs. J. D. Buswell. 




Lowell Brown. 


98. 


Charles F, Stewart. 


19. 


Daniel Knowlton. 


5. 


Jacob N, Flanders, 


106. 


Albert Saltmarsh, 


78. 


Daniel Farnum. 


13. 


John Ballard. 


17. 


Esther Abbot. 


29. 


Mrs. W. Roby. 


99. 


Anne A. Kimball. 


94. 


Mrs. J. Kittredge. 


7. 


David Simonds. 


80. 


John Burgum. 
Cyrus W. Paige. 


100. 


6. 


Samuel Utley. 


96. 


Andrew S. Smith. 


4 pews. 


Benjamin Farnum. 


61. 


Sylvester Dana. 


5-18 75. 


William Abbot. 


5-18 75, 


Moses B. Abbot. 



LefC, 



4(5. 


W. P. Ford. 


•iu. 


M. C. Herbert. 


•3& So. 


C. A. Woolsoa. 


biS. 


Harriet N. Hook. 


:'8. 


H.M.Moore. 


42. 


J^ylvester Dana. 


44. 


Svlvester Dana. 


8-10 75. 


Phebe C. Lund. 


^. 


Joseph Eastman. 


10. 


Dorcas M. Sticknev. 


39. 


Sarah E. Hamilton. 



OUR FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE. 23 

August ri, 1873, ^^^ thereby the lot became the property of the society, 
which subsequently, June i, 1874, executed a lease of the same to the pew 
owners of the present house during the period of its continuance.^ 

The duties devolved upon the committee appointed to present a plan for a 
new house proved onerous and perplexing. The subject interested every mem- 
ber of the society, and the ideas in regard to it were as various as they were 
vague. Two plans carefully matured were rejected. As time was passing and 
little progress making, some signs of impatience were occasionally shown^ but it 

John W. Ford, Chas. P. Blanchard. Xo. 

C. P. Bhmchard, C. A. Woolson. 

M. C. Herbert, C. P. Blanchard. 

A. M. Kelly, E. A. Moulton. 

M.F. Moore, C. W. Moore. 

JohnC. Thorn, B. S. Warren. 

John C. Tiiorn, B. S. Warren. 

Sylvester Dana. Marv C. Colby. 

O. L. Shepard, M. H. Bradley. 

C. F. Stewart, J. B. Walker. 

S. H. Stevens, Sylvester Dana. 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

MERRIMACK SS. SEPTEMBER, 1873. 

Personallv appeared the above named J()-!eph B. Walker, Charles P. B'anchard, Moses H. Bradlev, 
Andrew Banker, George H. Marston, William G. Carter, Edward A. Moalton, Charles W. Moore, 
Charles E. Ballard, Charles F. Stewarr, Daniel Farnmn, John Ballard, Benjamin Farniim. Enoch 
Gerrish, Calvin Thorn, Francis A. Fisk, and Phebe C. Lund, and July 2.'. 1874. Sarah E. Hamilton, 
and severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their voluntary act and deed. 

Before me, Svlvester Dana, Justice of the Peace. 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

MERRIMACK SS. SEPTE^IBER, 1873. 

Personallv appenred the above named Marv E. West, Emeline A. Pecker, Fannie P. Robinson, 
Rebecca A. Davis, Henry P. Sweetser, Cyru-; W. Paige, Judith D. Buswell. Daniel A. Hill, Lowell 
Brown. Ezra Carter, Harriet N. Hook, J. Kir^re'lge, John Burgum, Clara P. Morrill, .lolui Abbot, 
Anne A. Kimball, Andrew S. Smith, Willia-n P. Ford, Nancv B. Herbert, David Simonds, Joseph C. 
Tilton, W. Robv, George W. Ela, Dorcas M. Sticknev and Mary C. Herbert, J. C. Ordwav, Charlotte 
A. Woolson and Henry M. Moore, and severally acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be their 
voluutarv act and deed. Before me, 

Chas. F. Stewart, Justice of the Peace. 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

MERRIMACK SS. SEPTEMBER, 1873. 

Personally appeared the above named Mary Ann Roby, Lyman A. "Walker, Betsey S. Moulton, 
Andrew M.Grant, James Hazelton, Daniel Kn'owlton, Harri'-t F. Coffin; Jacob X. Flanders, Albert 
Saltmarsh, E-^ther Abbot, Samuel Utley, William Abbot, Joseph Eastman, Svlvester Dana and 
John H. Stewart and acknowledged the foregoing instrument by them subscribed to be their voluntary 
act an<l deed. Mefore me, 

MosES H. Bradley, Justice of the Peace. 

1 "Know all men by these presents, that the First Congregational Societv in Concord, in the County 
of 3Ierrimack, and State of New Hampshire, by Abner C. Holt, George F. Page and John C. Thorn, 
the prudential committee of said societv, duly authorized and empowered, for and in consideration of 
the sum of one dollar paid to said society by Joseph B Walker and others, of Concord aforesaid, 
signers of a certain agreement or articles 'of "association for the erection of a meeting-house for the 
use of persons worshipping with said societv, do hereby lease to the said Walker and others, the lot 
of land situate at the juuction of Main and Washington streets in Concord aforesaid, bounded easterly 
85 feet by Main street, southerly 200 feet by "Wa-hington street, westerly 106 feet and northerly 198 feet 
by lands" of Samuel M. Griffin." 

To have and to hold the same Avith all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging, to him 
and them, tlie said Walker and others, their heirs and a^^signs, in trust for the pew owners in said 
contemplated meeting-house, their heirs and assigns, for and during such period as said meeting-house 
shall stand and remain upon said premises, at the expiration of which said premises shall revert to the 
said First Congregational Society in Concord; excepting and reserving from the operation of this 
lease so much of said premises as contains the chapel thereon, and also so much as may be necessary 
for the erection of any other chapel with its appurtenances hereafter upon the said premises. 

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands and affix our seals in behalf of said society, this first 
day of June, 187i. 

Signed, sealed and delivered 

in the presence of Abner C. Holt, — — . ) T>,.„riQr,+,-ni n^ ,. v^ 

G. H. MAKSTON. GEORGE F. PAok. | L.S. | of sa^dTocietS "'^ 

Sylvester Dana. John C. Thorn. ) °^ ^^^^ societj . 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

MERRIMACK SS. JUNE 1, 187i. 

Personally appeared the above named Abner C, Holt, George F, Page and John C. Thorn and acknowl- 
edged the foregoing instrument by them subscribed, to be their voluntary act and deed. 

Before me, 

Sylvester Dana, Justice of the Peace." 
iSociety Archives. 



24 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

was not until two months or more after their appointment that the committee 
were able to offer to the society a design which was satisfactory to all. 

On the ninth of September they presented a report recommending a modified 
gothic, cruciform, brick church, with a principal facade upon Main street, having 
a bell-tower and spire upon the southeast corner, and an organ loft at the west 
end, with an audience room of sufficient capacity to seat six hundred persons ; 
to be built for a sum not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars.^ These points 
met with general favor, and were shortly afterward embodied in general floor 
plans and elevations by Mr. A. P. Cutting, architect, of Worcester, Mass. 

But one of the seven fundamental points given him the architect failed to se- 
cure in his design — the cost limit of ^25,000. 

When, therefore, on the ninth of March, 1874, the committee on plans and 
estimates reported the estimated cost of the structure proposed as thirty-two 
thousand dollars, there was manifest a general feeling of despondency. It was 
thought that so large a sum could not possibly be raised. At the same time, it 
was the almost universal feeling that the design proposed must not be relinquish- 
ed or materially altered. 

At that particular time the position of the committee on plans and means was 
not an enviable one. On one side they saw figures, based upon careful esti- 
mates, as inexorable as fate, reading $32,000. On the other the general deter- 
mination of the society to have the meeting-house of their choice, whether it 
could be paid for or not. 

However, it has ever been a fortunate characteristic of this old society that 
its membership has been a happily united one. It has always been able to con- 
centrate whatever of pecuniary dr other strength it had upon points unanimously 
acceptable. While its faith in its own powers has been modest, it has always 
been abiding. The shock caused by the figures above referred to was but brief. 

At a society meeting held three weeks after their announcement, when the 
subscription for the new house had reached the sum of ($19,250) nineteen 
thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, the venerable Dr. Ezra Carter, who had 
been deeply interested in the enterprise from the begining, arose, and with flash- 
ing eye proposed in nervous tones that, " when the subscription shall amount 
to ($22,500) twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars, the building committee 
shall proceed immediately to make contracts for the erection of the church. ^ 
The proposal was adopted, and the culminating point in the undertaking was 
passed. 

Contracts were soon afterwards executed and the work advanced with such 
rapidity that the foundations were completed and ready for the corner-stone on 
the twenty-fifth day of July, 1874. This was laid with appropriate services of 
exhortation, prayer and song, on the afternoon of that day. God's people, 
emerging from the wilderness upon the banks of the Jordan, did not contem- 
plate with greater joy the " sweet fields beyond the swelling flood," than did 
this people then see in imagination rising before them the walls and roof which 
shelter us to-day. 

The work progressed with such rapidity as secured the erection of the walls, 

1 '» Report of the committee on • Plans and Estimates,' reported, through J. B. Walker, Esq. 
The points decided on by the committee were as follows : 
1st. That it be a brick church. 
2d. To face Main street. 

3d. To have a tower and spire on S. E. corner. 
4th. That it be cruciform in shape. 
5th. To seat about six hundred on floor. 
6th. To cost $25,000. 

7th. That the organ be in rear of pulpit. 

On motion of Charles E. Ballard, and seconded by Charles F. Stewart- 
Voted that the report be accepted and approved, and that the committee be allowed to modify the 
same at their discretion." — Society Records, Vol. 3, page 91. 

2 Society Records, Vol. 3, page 106. 



OUR FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE. 25 

roof, bell-tower and spire by the dose of the autumn of that year (1874). The 
money raised, amounting to nearly twenty-five thousand dollars (^24,875) just 
sufficed for their completion, and the building was closed for the winter. 

A careful estimate, subsequently made, of the cost of finishing the interior, 
showed clearly the necessity of a farther subscription of ten thousand dollars. 
Every one had already paid as much as he had intended to give, but, realizing 
the importance of completing the work, and entertaining a wholesome dread of 
incurring a society debt, the subscribers came forward with supplementary prom- 
ises exceeding by a thousand dollars that amount.^ This sufficed to substantially 

1 The subscription paper for the erection of this house embodied eleven articles of mutual agreement, 
and was as follows, viz. : 

•* We, the undersigned, subscribers for the purpose of erecting a meeting-house on the lot of land sit- 
uate at the junction of Main and Washington streets in Concord, New Hampshire, for the use of per- 
sons attending religious worship with the First Congregational Society in Concord, hereby mutually 
covenant and agree to and with each other to pay the several sums set against our respective names to 
Francis A. Fisk, George H. Marston and Isaac N. Abbot, appointed for this purpose, such subscriptions 
to be subject to tlie terms and conditions following, to wit : 

First. A lease of the interest of the Society in said lot of land, for a nominal consideration is to be 
executed by said Societv, within two months from the time when this agreement shall become binding, 
to the subscribers hereto, in trust for the pew-owners in said house, their heirs and assigns, for the pe- 
riod during which said house may stand thereon. 

Second. The payments of said subscription are to be made, one fourth on the fifteenth day of Febru- 
ary, one fourth on the first day of May, one fourth on the fifteenth day of July, and one fourth on the 
first day of October, I87i, and notes given therefor when this subscription slial'l have become binding, 
payable to said Fisk, Marston and Abbot, or their order, to be held by them in trust for the purposes 
aforesaid, and the avails thereof are to be expended agreeably to the directions and on the written draft 
of the building committee, consisting of Shadraoli Seavey, Mark K. Holt and Samuel S. Kimball, which 
committee is authorized to construct said house. 

Third. The pews in said house are to be appraised by the building committee, and the selection of 
the same is to be determined by bids for choice thereof at an auction, notice of which is to be given by 
said committee; and the amounts of their several subscriptions shall be allowed to the subscribers and 
taken by them in pews, at the valuations at which they may be severally appraised as aforesaid. 

Fourth. All pews remaining on hand after a sum shall have been realized from this subscription and 
from the sale of pews sufficient to defray the expenses of erecting said house, with its appurtenances, 
the grading and fencing the lot, shall become the property of the Society and shall be rented by it, and 
the rents are to be appropriated : 1st. To the insurance of all the pews in said house. 2d. To any nec- 
essary repairs of said house, and 3d, To the general purposes of the Society ; and any balance of money 
realized by this subscription, together with the choice money arising from the selection of pews more 
than may be necessary for the object of said subscription, shall be similarly aopropriated. 

Fifth. Meetings of the pew-holders may be held at any time, upon at least two weeks' notice, posted 
in each vestibule of the meeting-house and signed bv any ten pew-holders. 

Sixth. At a meeting of the pew-holders duly called and held for the purpose, and by a two thirds vote 
of those present (each pew representing one vote), consent may be given to the Society, or to other par- 
ties, to construct in said house galleries, the pews remaining unsold in which shall become the property 
of the Society after the expense of constructing such galleries shall have been defrayed, and the rents 
of such pews shall be appropriated in the same manner as the rents of other pews of the Society. 

Seventh. At a like meeting and by a like vote, at any time after five years from the dedication of 
said house, the pews in said house may be made subject to assessment, according to their valuation by 
the Society, for the general running expenses of the Society; and also at alike meeting at any time, for 
the expense of effecting insurance upon said pews ; and the Society in either case shall have a lien upon 
said pews for the payment of such assessments. 

Eigth. At a like meeting at any time, and by a majority vote of the pew-holders present and voting 
(each pew representing one vote), "said pews may be in like manner assessed for such repairs on said 
house as may become necessary. 

Ninth. Bills of sale of the pew^s in said house, with all appropriate and necessary provisions, shall be 
executed by said Fisk, Marston and Abbot, the committee aforesaid, after the completion of said house 
and the selection of pews; and the said committee are to retain a lien on the several pews for the bene- 
fit of the subscribers until all amounts due upon them respectively are paid. 

Tenth. Any vacancy occurring in the committees herein named shall be filled by the Society. 

Eleventh. This agreement shall be binding only upon the subscribers when the aggregate of their 
subscriptions shall amount to twenty thousand and 'five hundred dollars. 

And in conformity with the foregoing terms and conditions, we hereunto set our hands and affix our 
respective subscriptions. 

Joseph B. Walker, $2,000; Moses H. Bradley, $1,000; Enoch Gerrish, $1,000; E. and W. G. Carter, 
$500; Mark R. Holt, $500; H. Richardson, $250; Charles P. Blanchard, $200; Sylvester Dana, $250; G. 
F.Page, $250; S. Seavey. $300; John Abbot, $300; A. C Holt, $300; Daniel Farnura, $250; Morrill 
Dunlap, $300; S. S. Kimball, $1,000; John Ballard, $250; Charles E.Ballard, $200; C. F. Stewart, $150; 
F. A. Fisk, $1,000; E. A. Pecker, $500; J. and G. H. Marston, $350; J. H. Stewart, $200; C. W. Moore, 
$200; M. C. Herbert, $250; Calvin Smart, $100; J D. Bartley, $150; Calvin Thorn & Son, $300; D. A, 
Hill, $200; F. D. Ayer, $200; Benjamin Farnum, $500; G. H. Seavey, $200; Mrs. Robert Davis, $200; 
John H. Ballard, $200; Albert Saltmarsh, $200; Nancy B. Herbert, $300; Mrs. C. A. Robinson, $100; 
E. A. and S. R. Moulton, $150; R. G. Morrison, $150; Mrs. John Stickney, $100; J. S. and I. N. Abbot, 
$450; Jeremiah S.Abbot, $150; Jacob N. Flanders, $150; Andrew S. Smith, $150; Oliver Pillsbury, $200; 
John C. Pillsbury, $200; N. Ronton, $100: E. Jackman, $300; Perry Kittredge, $200; Mary F. Gibson, 
$200; J. C. Tilton, $100; The First Congregational Society of Concord, by John C. Thorn, clerk, $1,000; 
George J. Sargent, $500; A.M. Parker, $100; C. A. Woolson, by M. C. Herbert, $1,000; James C.Whit- 
temore, $50; Andrew Bunker, $250; G. W. Emerton, $250 : First Congregational Sabbath School, by 
C. W. Moore, superintendent, $400; William Abbot. $200; M. B. Abbot, $200; Irenus Hamilton, $200; 
Sarah E. Hamilton, $200; C. H. B. Foster, $100; S. Seavey, $300; John Abbot, $100; G. F. Page, $100; 
John Ballard, $50; Daniel Farnum, $50; A. C. Holt, $50; E, and W. G. Carter, $250; M.R.Holt, $250; 
C. and J. C. Thorn, $100; Charles E. Ballard, $50; Andrew Bunker, $50; W. P. Fiske, $25; J. and G. 



26 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CON'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

finish the work. A small balance of one thousand dollars, found due the con- 
tractors upon final settlement, was met by an appropriation of a part of the 
choice money derived from the sale of the pews, which amounted to about thir- 
teen hundred dollars. 

When, therefore, on the first day of March, 1876, our fourth meeting-house 
was consecrated, it was given to Jehovah as a free will offering of our people, 
unincumbered by any debt.^ On that day was gratefully realized the purpose 
expressed in the resolution offered by the venerable ex-pastor, on the day after 
our third house was burned : " We, * * * * trusting still in Him, resolve 
with united hearts to arise and build another edifice for His worship and the 
honor of His name." 

H. Marston, floO; E. A. Pecker. $500; Calvin Smai-r, $25; C. W. Moore, $100; C. F. Stewart, $"')0; M. 
C. Herbert, $100; James C. Whittemore, $50; F. A. Fisk, $250; J. H. Stewart, $50; Isaac N. Abbot, 
$50; Mrs. C. L. Gerould, $50; Mrs. J. C. Urdwav, $200; J. E. Clifford, $100; S. S. Kimball, $100; F. A. 
Fisk, $100; Abigail B. Walker, $.'00; A. A. Moore. $200; E. P. Gerould, $25— $2i.875.00. 

In addition to former subscription above made, the undersi.isjned hereby subscribe the farther sums set 
against their respective names, and agree to give their note- therefor, upon the conditions and for the 
purposes herein before set forth, pivable in four instalments of twenty-tive per cent, each on the first 
day of June, August, October and December. 1875, said subscriptions not to be binding until they shall 
amount in the aggregate to the sum of ten thousand dolhirs. 
Concord, April 20, 1875. 
Charles F. Stewart, $75; Ca'vin Thorn, $150; H. Richardson, $125; E. and W. G. Carter, $250; M. H. 
Bradlev, $500; J. B. Walker, $1,0U0; S. Seavev, $150; S. S. Kimball, $400; G. F. P ge,$125; F. A. Fisk 
$150; M. C. Herbert, $125; Isaac N. Abbot, $^00; D. A. Hill, $50; Mrs. Robert Davis, $10J; J. H. Stew'- 
art, $50; Enoch Gerrish, $500; C. W. Mooro, $100; Sylvester Dana, $5 J; J. H. Ballard, $50; Morrill 
Dunlap, $105; E. Jackman, $100; E. A. Pecker, $250; H. S. and E. F. Ordway. $10J; W. P. Fiske, $50; 
C. P. Blanchard, $100; H. P. Svveetser, $50; Calvin Smart, $>0; X. Bouton, $25; Andrew S. Smith, 
$150; Sylvester Dana, $25; A. C. Holt, $50; E. A. Moulton, $50; Benj;imin Farnuni, $.;00; Caai-ies A. 
Woolson, $500; First CongregaMonal Sabbatli Scliool, bv C. W. Moore, supeiintendent, $.'00; Mrs. H. 
Elizabeth Hoit, $150; F. D. Ayer, $50; Charles Woodman, $200; D. A. Hill, $5J; Perry Fvittrcdge, $50. 
E. and W. G. Carter, $100; Isaac N. Abbot, $100; S. Seavev, $100; S. S. Kimball, $100; M. R. Holt. 
$100; A. S. Smith, $100; Andrew Bunker, $100; C. W. Motte. $100; E. Jackman, $100; Benjamin 
Farnum, $100; George J. Sargen. $100; F. A. Fisk, $100; .lolin Abbot, $103; E. A. Pecker, $100; G.F. 
Page, $100; John Ballard, $50; Webster and Morgan, $1,100; Charles M. Giluert, $.jOJ; Walter C. Sar- 
gent, $400; First Congregational Society, by M. H. Bradlev, in accordance with a vote passed December 

20, 1875, $1,000; $11,005.00 

Amount of collections paid by C. F. Stewart, .... 38.80 

Amount of first subscription,"^ . . . . . . . 2-1,875.00 

$35,918.80 

IThe order of exercises on this occasion was as follows, viz. : 

Organ Voluntary, selection; Invocation, Rev. L. C. Field; Reading of the Scriptures, [lev. S. L. 
Blake; Hvmn (Te Deum Laudamus), choir; Historical Address, Rev. Nathaniel B'>uton, n. n. ; Prayer, 
Rev. W. V. Garner ; Statement of the Building Committee, Shadrach Seavey; Hymn 1010; Sermon, 
Rev. F. D. Ayer. 

Dedicatiox. (Pastor.) To the praise and glory of God our Father in Heaven, by whose favor we 
have been strengt'nened, encouraged, and guided in rhis work of our hands ; 

To the name and taith of our Lord Jesus Christ, head over all things to the church, in whom we trust 
as our Leader, Teacher, and Redeemer ; 
To the honor aud praise of the Holv Spirit, our divine comforter and sancfifier; 
To the worship of the Triune God, in song and prayer and devout meditation upon his word; 
To the promulgation of the Evangelical faith, bequeathed us by the Pilgrims, and to the propagation 
of their church polity; 

To the culture and progress of our own souls in grace and in holy living; to the loving service of our 
fellow-men, seeking to do them good in all things as we have opportunity, and thus to the building up 
of the Redeemer's Kingdom ; 

With humble entreaty for God's blessing, praying that He will accept our offering, and invoking His 
sanctifying Spirit to abide with us always,— 

{People.) We, the members of the First Congregational Church and Society of Concord, do now 
dedicate this house, in the name and to the worship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
(Choir.) Gloria Patri. 

Dedicatory Prayer, Rev. J. G. Davis, D. d.; Hymn, choir and congregation. 
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 
And as the ages come and go, 
Let temples, fair in every land. 
Adorned with grace and glory stand. 
Praise Him, all creatures here below, 
While mountains rise or oceans flow; 
Let every household swell the song. 
And myriad choirs the notes prolong. 
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, 
Who know Him best and love Him most ; 
Let heaven with joy catch up the strain, 
And earth repeat the sweet refrain. 
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
Amid whose glories we are lost, 
As, gazing on the eternal throne, 
We see Jehovah's glorious form. 
Benediction. 



OUR FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE. 



I must not omit to mention that the carpets, pew-cushions, and some other 
articles of furniture, which cost about seventeen hundred dollars, were presented 
by the ladies of the society. The elegant pulpit bible was the gift of George A. 
Blanchard, Esq., of Concord. 

This house has an outside length of one hundred and six feet and six inches. 
Its width across the transept is seventy-one feet and four inches, and across the 
nave fifty-seven feet and four inches. The height of the ridge is fifty-two feet 
and six inches, and that of the spire is one hundred and forty-nine f^et and 
three inches. The audience room is finished to the apex of the roof, displaying 
the beams and rafters. The wood work is of ash and the pulpit and pews of 
black walnut. It is plainly frescoed, lighted by windows of stained glass, and 
seals comfortably about seven hundred persons, none of whom, except those in 
the gallery, sit more than sixty feet from the pulpit.^ The following floor plan 
shows its general arrangement : 




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FLOOR PLAN OF OUR FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE. 




1 The plan ot this mf eting-house embraces also that of a chapel to adjoin it on the west. This will 
contain a convenient andience room for small meetings, a ladies' parlor, and such other apartments as 
the wants of the Societv have suggested. That this will, at no distant dav, take the place of our pres- 
eat chapel, there is Ihtle reason to doubt. 



28 MEETING-HOUSES OF FIRST CONG'L SOC. IN CONCORD. 

This society has had two bells. The first, to which allusion has already been 
made, was moved from our second to our third meeting-house not long after its 
erection. There for a generation it called the living to worship, and tolled for 
the dead. When this building was burned, it shared its fate. A portion of it 
found among the ruins was subsequently sold, and the proceeds set apart towards 
the purchase of another. 

But so completely did the erection of the new house absorb the efforts of our 
people that the subject of a bell gained shght attention until a good woman, of 
slender means, called upon Dr. Bouton, and expressing a desire to contribute 
something for a new bell, handed him fifty dollars. When the honest Doctor, 
as^ cnis'ied at the magnitude of her gift, mildly intimated a fear that her liber- 
ahty might be surpassing her pecuniary abiHty, she quietly repHed that she " had 
earned the money with her own hands," and therefore further remonstrance was 
withheld. This disinterested act touched many hearts. A subscription was soon 
after opened, and solicitations, made largely by Mr. Mark R. Holt, met with such a 
response, within the society and without, that an amount was soon secured suffi- 
cient for the purchase not only of a bell, but of a steeple clock as well.^ 

The former, weighing a little over three thousand pounds, was raised to its 
present position in the tower late in the autumn of 1874. It was made in Troy, 
New York, by Meneely & Sons. Its tones, as sweet as they are ponderous, re- 
call to all conversant with its history the beneficence of the poor woman now 
gone to her reward. ^ The clock, made by Howard, of Boston, was introduced 
some months later. Unlike its predecessor, it has proved eminently truthful. 

The whole cost of our fourth meeting-house, with its furnishing and lot, was 
substantially as follows, viz : 

House, gas fixtures and furnaces, .... ^36,083.86 

Bell and clock, 1,800.00 

Organ and motor, ....... 5,300.00 

Carpets and upholstery, 1,700.00 

Land given by pew-owners of third house, . . . 6,000.00 



;$5o,883.86 
Our four meeting-houses indicate very clearly the social and civil conditions 
of the people by whom they were erected. They differed widely one from an- 
other and answered different requirements. 

Oar first meeting-house, built solely by the axe and of logs in the forest shade, 
answered the double purpose of sanctuary and fortress. It tells of exposure to 
Indian foes, of a receding wilderness and of virgin soils for the first time up- 
turned to the sun, of resolute fathers and brave mothers daring privations and 
dangers upon an Indian frontier that they might secure fair heritages to their 
children. 

Our second meeting-house met the requirements of a later period, when pop- 
ulation had increased and the wilderness had largely disappeared ; when the 
Hmits of townships and parishes were identical ; when the entire people of a 
town worshipped in one sanctuary, and the maintenance of public religious ser- 
vice was assessed by law upon the polls and estates of all. Meeting-houses cen- 
trally located and large were then required, and huge, barn-like structures of 

1 Xov. 9, 1874. " Voted, That the insurance money received from the old bell now on hand, amount- 

ing to about one hundred and nine dollars, be appropriated towards the new bell." 
Uu motion of W. G. Carter,— 
"Voted, That the committee be authorized and instructed to order at once a metal 
bell, of not less than 2,i00 lbs. weight, and a Howard clock, at a price reported by 
the committee." 
On motion of S. Dana, — 
" Voted, That the Society will stand by the committee in making up any deficiency 
that may occur."— Society Records, 'Vol. 3, pages 118, 119. 

2 Mrs. Elizabeth C. Hall, who died September 25, 1878. 



OUR FOURTH MEETING-HOUSE. 29 

two stories everywhere arose, as uninviting as they were capacious. These grad- 
ually disappeared after the passage of the toleration act, as town societies gave 
place to denominational associations. 

The characteristics of our third meeting-house were fixed by the wants of the 
denominational period, when small societies called for small houses of worship, 
and the hitherto prevailing pattern of huge, cubic structures of two stories was 
changed to parallelogram-shaped houses of one story. The modest facades of 
these, with their tapering spires and long side windows, indicate the dawn of 
esthetic culture and a desire for architectural advancement. 

Our fourth meeting-house, in which we are now convened, was intended to 
meet the necessities of the present period, when, in populous towns, small de- 
nominational organizations have grown to large ones, and esthetic and social 
culture has called for increased conveniencies and a better architecture. The 
skill of the hardy axe man of 1 730, or of the village carpenter of later times, no 
longer suffices to plan our houses of worship. Higher skill, and taste more ele- 
vated are sought, that God's house may be fair and fit for the indwelling of His 
Spirit. 

But the characteristics of these four meeting-houses are not peculiar to Con- 
cord or to New Hampshire. They belong as well to similar periods and like 
communities throughout New England. And we must not forget that the rough 
house of logs and the huge building upon the bleak hill, and the modest struct- 
ure of a single story and the gothic fane, with lofty spire and high resounding 
arches, all alike express the one great thought of man's instinctive need to wor- 
ship God, and that the same benignant Spirit cheered the hearts and nerved the 
arms of our ancestors in their rude block-house beside the brook, which beams 
in love upon us, their successors, here to-day. 



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